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{{Orphan|date=February 2021}}

{{Infobox person
| name = Iman Xin Chemjong Limbu
| image =Statue of Iman Xin Chemjong in vedetar of Nepal2.jpg
| imagesize = 250px
| caption = Iman Xin Chemjong Limbu
| Native name= ईमान सिङ चेम्जोङ लिम्बू
| birth_date = 1 January 1904
| birth_place = [[Darjeeling]], India
| nationality = [[Nepal]]i
| death_date = 1975
| death_place =
}}

'''Iman Xin Chemjong Limbu''' or '''Iman Singh Chemjong Limbu''': was a [[Limbu people|Limbu]] historian, writer, [[linguist]], [[lexicographer]], [[folklorist]] and philosopher of [[Nepal]]. Although some say that his middle name ''Xin'' was spelled as ''Singh'' due to mainstream Nepalese or Indian influence, others say ''Singh'' is correct because in his book ''Kiratakalina Vijayapurako Sankshipta Itihasa'', Chemjong writes his name in [[Nepali language|Nepali]] as Iman Singh Chemjong. Chemjong devoted his entire life to studying and documenting various facets of Kirat Limbu tradition and culture at a time when such activities were frowned upon and even punished by the Nepalese ruling elite as being subversive and "anti-national". Chemjong's research into, and publication of, a Kiranti history and culture challenged perceptions of the Nepalese official [[doctrine]] that showcased [[Nepal]] as a [[Hindu]] cultural monolith devoid of alternative narratives.

Born in Renkebung village of [[Darjeeling district]], West Bengal, [[India]], Chemjong received his education at St. Xavier's College, then under the [[University of Calcutta]]. In 1928, he completed his certificate level and was about to enroll for a [[Bachelor degree]], when his father, Megbar Singh Chemjong, died. Chemjong junior had to put his academic aspirations on hold.

==Early influences==
Traditionally, [[Limbu people|Limbus]] observed a religion called [[Mundhum]] centred on [[animistic]] [[ritual]]s and practices. However, due to assimilation of Limbus into the [[Hindu]] mainstream, many Limbus adopted Hindu names and started to participate in Hindu [[worship]]s and festivals.

[[Limbu people|Limbus]] never really severed their ties to their rich religion and culture that stretched back to ancient times. Alongside [[Hindu goddesses]] [[Durga]] and [[Laxmi]], Limbus continued to worship their own supreme god Ningmaphuma. One such devoted Limbu worshipper was Chemjong's own mother, Devapu Hangma. Limbu Mundum religion is a rich cornucopia of oral traditions encompassing Kirati theology, [[mythology]], history, [[genealogy]], culture and traditions, and having a devout mother gave Chemjong a distinct advantage to learn all these.

A turning point in Chemjong's life came in 1925, when the legendary [[Limbu people|Limbu]] activist Lalshore Sendang visited [[Kalimpong]] in Darjeeling district and met Limbu elders and activists. Chemjong was one of the many Limbu youths who learned the [[Limbu alphabet|Limbu Sirijonga script]] from Sendang and attended his talks on Limbu religion and culture.

==Works==
Chemjong researched Limbu language and culture in Limbuwan, i.e. East Nepal, the neighbouring hill areas of Darjeeling and [[Sikkim]] (then an independent [[Himalaya]]n kingdom) and also in [[Assam]]. In his own lifetime, he published the following works:<ref>http://chumlung.org.np/page.php?page=11</ref>

*''Kirat Itihas'' 1948
*''Kirat Sahityako Itihas'' 1955
*''Kirat Folklore'' 1961
*''Kirat Mundhum'' 1961
*''Limboo-Nepali-English Dictionary'' 1961
*''Kirat Mundhum Khahun'' 1965
*''Kirat History and Culture'' 1967
*''Kirat Darshanko Saransh'' 1969
*''[[Lepcha language|Lepcha]]-Nepali-English Dictionary'' 1969
*''Bijayapurko Itihas'' 1974

==Recognition==
In a gesture that went against the grain of prevailing state ideology, [[King Mahendra]] invited Chemjong to join Nepal's [[Tribhuvan University]] in the capacity of "Limbu expert" in 1961. For years until his death, Chemjong headed a one-man Limbu research team at the then Nepal's only university. Chemjong appears to have held a "Kirant Bhasha Tatha Sanskriti Bishesagya (Specialist in Kiranti Language and Culture)" position at the Tribhuwan University, Kirtipur, [[Kathmandu]] as evidenced by his title in his book ''Kiratakalina Vijayapurako Sankshipta Itihasa'' published in 1975 and not as "Limbu expert".

Today, the Limbu community spread across mid- and eastern Nepal, West Bengal, Assam, Sikkim and [[Bhutan]] revere Chemjong as a hero for almost single-handedly researching and documenting various aspects of Limbu and Kirati life at a time when such activities were neither encouraged nor fashionable. Various functions are held each year to commemorate Chemjong's contributions.<ref>http://isikkim.com/107th-birth-anniversary-of-iman-chemjong/</ref>

Chemjong is survived by his wife, Amiran Chemjong, two daughters, three sons and nine grandchildren.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*http://www.limbulibrary.com.np/pdf/Kirat%20Dantya%20Katha-Imansing.pdf

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chemjong, Iman Singh}}
[[Category:1904 births]]
[[Category:1975 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian animists]]
[[Category:People from Darjeeling district]]
[[Category:University of Calcutta alumni]]
[[Category:Limbu people]]
[[Category:Indian historians]]
[[Category:Nepali-language writers]]
[[Category:Indian scholars]]
[[Category:Indian philosophers]]
[[Category:Language activists]]
[[Category:20th-century historians]]

Iman Xin Chemjong - Revision history

WikiDwarf at 09:27, 24 February 2021