Blshastri2 at 06:39, 25 February 2026

2026-02-25T06:39:32Z

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{{Short description|Mizo Chieftainess of Western Lushai Hills}}
{{use Indian English|date=December 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Banaitangi
| image =
| title = Chiefainess<br />{{lang|lus|Lal}}
| caption =
| succession =
| reign =
| coronation =
| cor-type =
| predecessor = [[Mângpawrha]]
| regent =
| reg-type =
| successor =
| suc-type =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 1835
| birth_place =
| death_date = 1884
| death_place = Tanhril <small>(borough of present-day [[Aizawl]])</small>
| spouse = [[Ngursailova]] (February 1865)
| spouse-type = Spouse
| consort =
| issue = Laljachaja, Van Khampui
| issue-link =
| regnal name =
| house = Sailo
| father = [[Lalmanga]]
| mother = [[Pi Buki]]
| religion = [[Mizo religion|Sakhua]]
| type = chieftainess
| burial_date =
| burial_place =
| signature =
}}
'''Banaitangi'''{{efn|Variations: Banaithangi, Banaitongi, Vanhnuaithangi }} was a Lushai chieftainess known as the sister of [[Sukpilal]] and wife of [[Ngursailova]]. She is most known for her beauty and poetry at the time and her separation from her husband. She was the first Lushai chieftainess to venture into the plains of Bengal.

==Chieftainship==
After Banaitangi was married to Ngursailova, she gained a positive reputation as a kind and compassionate chief compared to others. Due to the fact that Ngursailova spent time with his father, [[Lalchukla]], who was captive in Sylhet, Banaitangi was encouraged to take an interest in public life and facets of chieftainship. She was the first Lushai chieftainess to come down to the plains of [[Sylhet]], [[Agartala]] and [[Dhaka]].{{sfn|Chatterjee|1990|p=102}}{{sfn|Chatterjee|1995|p=81}}

===Quarrel with her husband===
Ngursailova after marriage found Banaitangi to be an expensive wife. Banaitangi took control of managing estates and taking on roles of chieftainship in Ngursailova's absence. Laljeeka also raided Ngursailova's settlements as a revenge for Banaitangi'sa marriage rejection. In return, Sukpilal took revenge on Laljeeka and forced him to take refuge under the eastern chiefs. Due to these issues, and Banaitangi's acumen in accumulating influence over his own power, Ngursailova under the influence of ''Zu'' ([[rice beer]]) assaulted Banaitangi. Banaitangi in return swore revenge and Ngursailova ordered her arrest. In the middle of the night, Banaitangi with a few loyal nobles escaped Ngursailova's village in January 1871 and in three days managed to reach Sukpilal's village of Reiek. Petty chiefs such as Roona and Mona followed her as well. Sukpilal and her mother [[Pi Buki]] made peace with Laljeeka to invade Ngursailova's estate. Banaitangi ruled her own estates similar to before her marriage as an independent chieftainess. Ngursailova attempted to mend the separation and offer her to raise his sons but she refused and he died soon after.{{sfn|Chatterjee|1995|p=82}}

===Later life===
Banaitangi after the death of her husband followed customary practices on widowhood. She observed widow penance known as ''thlahual''. Upon meeting with Major Boyd in 1881 her poor health had physically aged her further than she truly was. She clad herself in a white sari during her widow years. She also conducted an interview in Bengali with Boyd's assistant Hari Charan Sharma in her settlement's [[zawlbuk]] on 3 February 1881. The interview was a surprise to British officials as the trial of her father-in-law Lalchukla had created opposition from chiefs to cooperate with the British. Due to this, she is considered the first Lushai lady and chieftainess to hold diplomatic relations with the British.{{sfn|Chatterjee|1995|p=83}}{{sfn|Chatterjee|1985|p=94}}{{sfn|Chatterjee|1990|p=103}}

==Biography==
{{Sukpilal family tree}}

===Early life===
Banaitangi was born to Chief [[Mângpawrha]] and his wife [[Pi Buki]] in 1835. She was the sister of [[Suakpuilala]] and granddaughter of [[Lallula]].{{sfn|Chatterjee|1995|p=82}}

===Marriage and family===
Banaitangi was married to Ngursailova in February of 1885. She had two sons namely Laljachaja and Bamkhampui.{{sfn|Chatterjee|1990|p=103}} For her marriage, Sukpilal raided Adampore and provided several Bengali maidens to serve her in her new life. Due to this, Banaitangi became fluent in Bengali.{{sfn|Chatterjee|1995|p=83}}
Oral history recounts Banaitangi's beauty and how high her bride price was as a result which prevented many Lushai chiefs from being able to marry her. A southern chief named [[Laljeeka]] offered to marry Banaitangi but she refused him but she was already arranged to be married to her cousin [[Ngursailova]]. However, the marriage to Ngursailova was delayed due to the expenses of conducting the trial on [[Lalchukla]]. It is said it took two years for Ngursailova to afford the bride price for Banaitangi as a result. For their marriage, Banaitangi composed her own hla (song/poem).{{sfn|Chatterjee|1995|p=82}}

===Death===
Banaitangi died in 1885 in her own settlement.{{sfn|Chatterjee|1995|p=81}} Her legacy saw a fusion and acceptance of cultural practices from the plains. She introduced Hindu melodies into ''Mizo hla'' and mixed traditional ''puan'' cloths with artistic embroideries through Muslim and Hindu accessories. However, most of her poems are lost or corrupted through village bards, largely lost to time.{{sfn|Chatterjee|1994|p=10}} Her son Bankhampui became a renowned poet.{{sfn|Chatterjee|1994|p=46}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book |last=Chatterjee |first=Suhas |date=1985 |title=British rule in Mizoram |location=New Delhi |publisher=Mittal Publications}}

*{{cite book |last=Chatterjee |first=Suhas|date=1994 |title=Making of Mizoram: Role of Laldenga |location=new Delhi |publisher=M D Publications |isbn=81-85880-38-7}}

*{{cite book |last=Chatterjee |first=Suhas |date=1995 |title=Mizo Chiefs and the Chiefdom |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YON9iVgsDRUC |location=New Delhi |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=81-85880-72-7}}

*{{cite book |last=Chatterjee |first=Suhas |date=1990 |title=Mizo Encyclopaedia|location=Aizawl|publisher=Jaico Publishing House}}

[[Category:Western Lushai chiefs]]
[[Category:1885 deaths]]
[[Category:1835 births]]

Banaitangi - Revision history

Blshastri2 at 06:39, 25 February 2026