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{{Short description|Poem in Classical Meitei language}}
{{About|a [[Classical Meitei language]] epic poem|the traditional Meitei classical dance|Khamba Thoibi Jagoi|the general topic|Khamba and Thoibi}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox poem
|name = Khamba Thoibi Sheireng
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|subtitle = [[National epic]] of the [[Manipuris]]<ref name=":George">{{Cite book |last=George |first=K. M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA258 |title=Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems |date=1992 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=978-81-7201-324-0 |location=India |pages=258 |language=en |quote=H. Anganghal Singh's Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (Poem on Khamba Thoibi, 1940) is a national epic of the Manipuris based on the story of Khamba and Thoibi of Moirang. The poet composes the whole epic in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads sung by minstrels or bards popular in Manipur.}}</ref><ref name=":Sisir">{{Cite book |last=Das |first=Sisir Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sqBjpV9OzcsC&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA190 |title=A History of Indian Literature: 1911-1956, struggle for freedom : triumph and tragedy |date=2005 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=978-81-7201-798-9 |pages=190 |language=en |quote=His epic Singel Indu was published in 1938 which was followed by his magnum opus Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (1940), a poem of 39000 lines, considered to be the 'national' epic of the Manipuris, written in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads.}}</ref> National Romantic Legend of Manipur<ref name="Chatterji 1951 189">{{Cite book |last=Chatterji |first=Suniti Kumar |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32096/page/n189/mode/2up |title=KIRATA-JANA-KRTI THE INDO-MONGOLOIDS : THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF INDIA |date=1951 |publisher=[[The Asiatic Society]]; [[Digital Library of India]]; [[Internet Archive]] |edition=April 1998 |location=Calcutta |pages=189 |language=en |quote=The ‘National Romantic Legend of Manipur’ — the great love story of the hero Khamba and Princess Thoibi, which after a happy union of the two lovers ended in a tragedy, — began to be treated in Old Meithei ballads from the middle of the twelfth century. The lovers lived about 1100 A.D., during the rule of King Loyamba.... |author-link=Suniti Kumar Chatterji}}</ref>
|author = [[:simple:Hijam Anganghal|Hijam Anganghal]]
|original_title = {{Script|Mtei|ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡ}}
|original_title_lang = mni
|translator = [[#Translations|Dr. Jodhachandra Sanasam]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Jodhachandra Sanasam Sahityabhusan 2017 |url=http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=features.Profile_of_Manipuri_Personalities.Manipur_State_Kala_Akademi_Award_2011_Winners.Jodhachandra_Sanasam_Sahityabhusan_2017 |website=e-pao.net |quote=And he was also awarded with Dr. Kamal Kabiratna Ningsing Sel Mana 2014 by Manipuri Sahitya Parishad Imphal for his novel Leisat Tamle Nanggidamak and for his English translation of Khamba Thoibi Seireng he was honoured with Sahitya Thoupanglup's Nongthombam Kunjamohan Singh Translation Award 2017.}}</ref>
|written = 1940<ref name=":Datta">{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA1573 |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti |date=1988 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=978-81-260-1194-0 |location=India |pages=1573 |language=en |quote=His best work, Khamba Thoibi sheireng, in 39,000 lines on the story of 'Khamba and Thoibi' was started in 1939 and the composition was completed in 1940.}}</ref><ref name=":Sisir" />
|first =
|illustrator =
|cover_artist =
|country = {{flagicon image|Flag of Manipur.svg}} [[Manipur Kingdom]] (historical) {{IND}} (current)
|language = [[Meitei language]] (officially known as [[Manipuri language]])
|series =
|subject = [[Meitei literature]] ([[Manipuri literature]])
|genre = [[Epic cycles of incarnations]], [[Epic poetry]], [[National epic]]<ref name=":George"/><ref name=":Sisir"/>
|form =
|meter =
|rhyme =
|publisher =
|publication_date = 1940<ref name=":Datta"/><ref name=":Sisir" />
|media_type = book
|lines = 39,000<ref name=":Datta">{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA1573 |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti |date=1988 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=978-81-260-1194-0 |location=India |pages=1573 |language=en |quote=His best work, Khamba Thoibi sheireng, in 39,000 lines on the story of 'Khamba and Thoibi' was started in 1939 and the composition was completed in 1940.}}</ref><ref name=":Sisir" /> (8 volumes<ref name=":AIR">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=L. Damodar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gL_8DwAAQBAJ&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Seireng&pg=PA1582 |title=AKASHVANI: Vol. XL. No. 35 (31 AUGUST, 1975) |date=31 August 1975 |publisher=All India Radio (AIR), New Delhi |pages=1582 |language=en}}</ref>)
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|preceded_by =
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|orig_lang_code = mni
|native_wikisource =
}}
{{Contains special characters|Meitei}}

The '''Khamba Thoibi Sheireng''', also spelled as the '''Khamba Thoibi Seireng''' ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡ}}||Poem on [[Khamba Thoibi]]}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=George |first=K. M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA29 |title=Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems |date=1992 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=978-81-7201-324-0 |location=India |pages=29 |language=en}}</ref>), is a [[Classical Meitei language]] [[epic poem]] based on the ancient love story of [[Khuman Salai|Khuman]] prince [[Khuman Khamba|Khamba]] and [[Moilang|Moirang]] princess [[Thoibi]] of [[Ancient Moirang]] kingdom{{efn|[[Moirang]] was an independent kingdom in early times, though later became a province of a unified kingdom, called [[Manipur Kingdom]].}} of [[Ancient Kangleipak]] (early [[Manipur]]).<ref>{{Cite book |author=All India Radio (AIR), New Delhi |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xf_2DwAAQBAJ&dq=manipuri+classics&pg=PA7 |title=AKASHVANI: Vol. XXXIII, No.12 (17 MARCH, 1968) |date=17 March 1968 |publisher=[[All India Radio]] (AIR), New Delhi |location=India |pages=7, 8 |language=en |chapter=Some Classics of Manipur |author-link=All India Radio}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=KanglaOnline |date=4 April 2011 |title=The great Meitei Reconciliation Process: Revisiting the classical folklore on "Emoinu Chakhong Ngahongbi" by Late Shri Ningomabam Angouton Meetei – KanglaOnline |url=https://kanglaonline.in/2011/04/the-great-meitei-reconciliation-process-revisiting-the-classical-folklore-on-emoinu-chakhong-ngahongbi/ |access-date=12 November 2023 |language=en-US |quote=... The folklore of Emoinu Celebration from the story “Washak Ngakpa” meaning Keeping the Promise, written by Late Shri Ningombam Angouton Meetei and the classical love story “Khamba -Thoibi” are classical examples of successful reconciliation process of the old Meitei factions... |archive-date=19 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519074523/https://kanglaonline.in/2011/04/the-great-meitei-reconciliation-process-revisiting-the-classical-folklore-on-emoinu-chakhong-ngahongbi/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bond |first=Ruskin |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NZv0AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT4 |title=The Penguin Book of Classical Indian Love Stories and Lyrics |date=14 October 2000 |publisher=[[Penguin UK]] |isbn=978-93-5118-814-8 |pages=3, 4 |language=en |chapter=The Story of Khamba and Thoibi |author-link=Ruskin Bond}}</ref> It is the [[magnum opus]] of [[Hijam Anganghal]], the "Bard of [[Samurou]]". It is regarded as the [[national epic]] of the [[Manipuris]].<ref name=":George">{{Cite book |last=George |first=K. M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA258 |title=Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems |date=1992 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=978-81-7201-324-0 |location=India |pages=258 |language=en |quote=H. Anganghal Singh's Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (Poem on Khamba Thoibi, 1940) is a national epic of the Manipuris based on the story of Khamba and Thoibi of Moirang. The poet composes the whole epic in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads sung by minstrels or bards popular in Manipur.}}</ref><ref name=":Amaresh">{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA1186 |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti |date=1988 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=978-81-260-1194-0 |location=India |pages=1186 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":Sisir">{{Cite book |last=Das |first=Sisir Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sqBjpV9OzcsC&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA190 |title=A History of Indian Literature: 1911-1956, struggle for freedom : triumph and tragedy |date=2005 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=978-81-7201-798-9 |pages=190 |language=en |quote=His epic Singel Indu was published in 1938 which was followed by his magnum opus Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (1940), a poem of 39000 lines, considered to be the 'national' epic of the Manipuris, written in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads.}}</ref> It is regarded as the greatest of all the epic poems in [[Meitei literature]], with 39,000 [[Verse (poetry)|verses]], thereby being [[Indian epic poetry#Longest Indian epics|the third longest Indian epic poem]], next to the [[Mahabharata]] and the [[Ramayana]].<ref name=":Datta"/><ref name=":Sisir" /><ref name=":AIR"/>

The Khamba Thoibi Sheireng is often considered to be in a status of “[[mahakavya]]” ({{Translation|great epic; court epic}}), and its author [[:simple:Hijam Anganghal|Hijam Anganghal]] as a “[[:en:wikt:महाकवि|mahakavi]]” ({{Translation|great poet; classical poet}}). For composing the epic, Anganghal was honoured by the [[Manipuri Sahitya Parishad]], with the title “Kabiratna” in 1948.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2016 |orig-date=2016 |title=মহাকবি হিজম অঙাংহলগী পোক্লফম শামুরৌ অমদি মহাক্কী পুন্সি খোঙচৎ |url=http://hueiyenlanpao.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/28.07.2019-B7.pdf |website=[[Hueiyen Lanpao]] |place=India |language=mni |publication-date=2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=((Sylhet Today 24)) |last2=শেরাম |first2=এ কে |title=মণিপুরী ভাষার মহাকাব্য 'খম্বা-থোইবী শৈরেং' |url=https://www.sylhettoday24.news/news/details/Literature/26792 |access-date=14 November 2023 |website=sylhettoday24.news |publisher=Sylhet Today 24 News| location=Sylhet, Bangladesh |language=bn }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |year=2014 |orig-date=2014 |title=সাহিত্যগী অখন্নবা লমায় - মহাকবি হিজম অঙাংহল |url=http://hueiyenlanpao.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/jul-27-2014-4.pdf |website=[[Hueiyen Lanpao]] |place=India |language=mni |publication-date=2014}}</ref>

The epic saga is based on the ancient classic of [[Khamba and Thoibi]], also referred to as the ''"National Romantic Legend of Manipur"'' by [[Suniti Kumar Chatterjee]],<ref name="Chatterji 1951 189">{{Cite book |last=Chatterji |first=Suniti Kumar |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32096/page/n189/mode/2up |title=KIRATA-JANA-KRTI THE INDO-MONGOLOIDS : THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF INDIA |date=1951 |publisher=[[The Asiatic Society]]; [[Digital Library of India]]; [[Internet Archive]] |edition=April 1998 |location=Calcutta |pages=189 |language=en |quote=The ‘National Romantic Legend of Manipur’ — the great love story of the hero Khamba and Princess Thoibi, which after a happy union of the two lovers ended in a tragedy, — began to be treated in Old Meithei ballads from the middle of the twelfth century. The lovers lived about 1100 A.D., during the rule of King Loyamba.... |author-link=Suniti Kumar Chatterji}}</ref> as well as one of the 7 [[epic cycles of incarnations]], constituting the [[Moirang Kangleirol]] of [[Ancient Moirang]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Oinam |first1=Bhagat |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X31aDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA236 |title=Northeast India: A Reader |last2=Sadokpam |first2=Dhiren A. |date=11 May 2018 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |isbn=978-0-429-95320-0 |pages=236, 237 |language=en |quote=Numerous manuscripts of the Moirang region dwell on the theme of love. One of the most popular stories refers to the seven pairs of lovers who are regarded as incarnations of the same souls in different generations or age.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ObFCT5_taSgC&dq=epic+cycle+incarnations+moirang&pg=PA349 |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo |date=1987 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=978-81-260-1803-1 |location=India |pages=349 |language=en |quote=The epic ballad cycle of the incarnations of Moirang which is nine in number according to some and only seven according to others is a grand majestic saga of the eternal triangle in which generations after generations would find reflections of the various hopes, ideals and aspirations of each age. |author-link=Amaresh Datta}}</ref>

Another remarkable achievement of [[Meitei cultural heritage]], directly related to the Khamba Thoibi epic poem, is ''[[Khamba Thoibi Jagoi]]'' ({{Langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ ꯖꯒꯣꯢ}}||{{Script|Latn|Khamba Thoibi classical dance}}|}}), also known as ''Khamba Thoibi ballet'',<ref>—{{Cite book |last=Banerji |first=Projesh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5fXZKe3xHQAC&dq=khamba+thoibi+ballet&pg=PA74 |title=Indian Ballet Dancing |date=1983 |publisher=Abhinav |isbn=978-0-391-02716-9 |location=India |pages=74 |language=en}} —{{Cite book |last=Raina |first=Vimala |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.460207/page/n7/mode/2up |title=Khamba Thoibi And Poems On Manipur |date=18 January 1963 |publisher=[[Digital Library of India]]; [[Internet Archive]] |others=[[Manipur Government]] Press; [[Manipur University]] Library; North Eastern States Libraries |location=India |pages=ii |language=en}} —{{Cite book |last=Banerji |first=Projesh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5fXZKe3xHQAC&dq=khamba+thoibi+ballet&pg=PA77 |title=Indian Ballet Dancing |date=1983 |publisher=Abhinav |isbn=978-0-391-02716-9 |location=India |pages=77 |language=en}}</ref> which is a [[Meitei tradition|traditional Meitei]] [[ritual dance|ritualistic]] and [[theatre dance|theatrical]] classical dance form,<ref>—{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h2rrAAAAMAAJ&q=classical+Khamba+Thoibi |title=Pathway Volume 41 |date=1988 |author1=[[University of Michigan]] |author2=Marg Foundation (Mumbai, India) |author3=Modern Architectural Research Group |author4=Modern Artists and Architects Research Group |author5=National Centre for the Performing Arts (India) |volume=41 |pages=XV |language=en |quote=First and foremost are the surviving ritual dances which have been absorbed into the repertoire. The Lai-haraoba and the Khamba Thoibi may be counted among these. Their historical and mythical theme makes them as classical as any of the later Vaishnavite dances.}} —{{Cite book |last=Doshi |first=Saryu |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xRbkAAAAMAAJ&q=classical+Khamba+Thoibi |title=Dances of Manipur: The Classical Tradition |date=1989 |others=[[University of Michigan]] |isbn=978-81-85026-09-1 |pages=XIX |publisher=Marg Publications |language=en |quote=First and foremost are the surviving ritual dances which have been absorbed into the repertoire. The Lai-haraoba and the Khamba Thoibi may be counted among these. Their historical and mythical theme makes them as classical as any of the later Vaishnavite dances. They have an element of abhinaya (histrionic representation)...}} —{{Cite book |first=D. M.|last=Silveira |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fZA_AAAAMAAJ&q=classical+Khamba+Thoibi |title=DM Silveira's India Book |date=1994 |publisher=Classic Publishers |others=[[University of Michigan]] |isbn=978-81-900218-2-1 |pages=230 |language=en |quote=...Lai Haraoba is the ritual folk-cum-classical dance of Manipur and tells the story of creation according to the Manipuris. Khamba Thoibi is a popular Manipuri dance which tells the story of princess Thoibi and poor boy Khamba...}} —{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PJLWAAAAMAAJ&q=classical+Khamba+Thoibi |title=Mãrg |author1=[[Pennsylvania State University]]|author2=[[National Centre for the Performing Arts (India)]] |volume=41 |pages=109 |language=en |quote=First and foremost are the surviving ritual dances which have been absorbed into the repertoire. The Lai-haraoba and the Khamba Thoibi may be counted among these. Their historical and mythical theme makes them as classical as any of the later Vaishnavite dances. They have an element of abhinaya histrionic representation)... |issue=1–2}} —{{Cite web |last=Khuraijam |first=Bobo |date=13 March 2011 |title=Three Cheers – KanglaOnline |url=https://kanglaonline.in/2011/03/three-cheers/ |access-date=13 November 2023 |language=en-US |quote=... Would it not be like asking for a Hip-Hop dance from a classical Khamba-Thoibi jagoi performance if we expect street aggression from our teachers? ...}}</ref> a part and parcel of the [[Lai Haraoba]] performances,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Banerji |first=Projesh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5fXZKe3xHQAC&dq=khamba+thoibi+ballet&pg=PA77 |title=Indian Ballet Dancing |date=1983 |publisher=Abhinav |isbn=978-0-391-02716-9 |location=India |pages=77 |language=en}}</ref> performed in honour of God {{langnf|omp|[[Thangching]]|[[Thangching|Thangjing]]}}, the [[national deity]] of [[Ancient Moirang]] realm.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Everything Experiential {{!}} Khamba Thoibi Dance |url=http://everythingexperiential.businessworld.in/tags/Khamba-Thoibi-Dance-91441 |access-date=7 February 2021 |website=Everything Experiential |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 March 2012 |title=Khamba Thaibi Dance |url=http://www.dance.anantagroup.com/khamba-thaibi-dance/ |access-date=7 February 2021 |website=Indian Classical Folk & Tribal Dance |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=khamba Thoibi Folk Dance of Manipur |url=http://www.indianfolkdances.com/khamba-thoibi-folk-dance-of-manipur.html |access-date=7 February 2021 |website=www.indianfolkdances.com}}</ref> Notably, it is one of the classical cultural elements, giving inspirations to the rise of the [[Manipuri Raas Leela]] classical dance drama form.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GC9Vegt10IwC&dq=classical+Khamba+Thoibi&pg=PA19 |title=Dances Of India |date=2010 |publisher=Har-Anand Publications Pvt. Limited |isbn=978-81-241-1337-0 |pages=19 |language=en |quote=...The Rasa Lila dances of Shiva and Parvati, Radha and Krishna, and the local deities Khamba and Thoibi form the foundation of the Manipuri dance...}}</ref>

== Textual history ==
The [[epic poem]] of the Khamba Thoibi Sheireng was developed by [[:simple:Hijam Anganghal|Hijam Anganghal]] from the "pena sheishak" style of the [[Moirang Sai|traditional ballad]]s ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯈꯨꯟꯅꯨꯡ ꯏꯁꯩ}}|{{Script|Latn|khunnung eeshei}}|}}) sung by [[minstrel]]s with [[pena (musical instrument)]]. It was adapted from the traditional Meitei [[ballad]] known as the "[[Moirang Sai|Khamba Thoibi ballad]]", which is practised even in present times, for a continuous duration of 20–30 days in diverse musical genres.<ref name=":Amaresh" /><ref name=":George" /><ref name=":Sisir" />

The Khamba Thoibi Sheireng is regarded as the [[masterpiece]] of [[:simple:Hijam Anganghal|Hijam Anganghal]]. The literary work was started in the year 1939 and it was completed in the year 1940.<ref name=":Datta" />

== Synopsis ==
{{Further|Khamba and Thoibi#Plot}}
[[Khuman Khamba]] was a [[terrae filius]], brought up by his elder sister [[Khamnu]], who spared no pains for his safety and well-being. By the time he became a youth, he wanted to be of some help to his sister and came out in search of work. On the day he first moved out of his house, he happened to enter the residence of prince Chingkhu Akhuba, the younger brother of King Chingkhu Telheiba, with its imposing house and spacious premises and there for the first time saw princess Thoibi, the only daughter of the prince, plying her needle in embroidery. The moment she saw Khamba, handsome and shapely in physique, she gave her heart away to him. But on the part of Khamba, at first he could not harbour such sentiments as he was conscious of his humble origin.<ref name=":Manihar">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Ch Manihar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yiBkAAAAMAAJ |title=A History of Manipuri Literature |date=1996 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |others=Original from:the [[University of Michigan]] |isbn=978-81-260-0086-9 |location=India |language=en}}</ref>

Another man, Nongban, worked as a foil to Khamba. For a long time, there was no one in [[Moirang]] to beat him in [[racing|race]], [[wrestling]] and [[hockey]], but with the appearance of Khamba, he is defeated and deprived of this honour. At first, the prince took kindly to Khamba, and despite his offer to maintain the young man in his family, the latter insisted on singing for his supper which he did by tending the stall-fed fierce bull of the prince. As everybody was curious of Khamba's physical prowess, his sister then kept him in hiding for a while. Thoibi is heart-brokened and pines after him. From the grace of God [[Thangching]], the two meet again on the [[Loktak lake]]. Their love is steady until the recalcitrant behaviour and overzealous stance of Thoibi provokes her father to come in the way of the lovers in league with Nongban.<ref name=":Manihar" />

Khamba's gradual rise in popularity among the people, winning of the King's favour with the recognition of his identity on account of his superhuman feats in sports and capturing a wild bull singlehanded further enraged the prince. A murder attempt was made on his life and subsequently Thoibi was sent to exile. However, this act could not, in the least, crush the heart of the lover. Thoibi, on her being called back from disgrace, had the opportune moment of joining with her love. Before the actual marriage took place and in a trial of fate, Nongban fell prey to a tiger which Khamba could overcome.<ref name=":Manihar" />

==Structure==
{{Further|Meitei literature}}
The epic consists of approximately thirty four thousand [[Line (poetry)|lines]] divided into 81 sections (tangkaks) in 15 chapters (pandups).

== Analysis ==
While analysing the Khamba Thoibi Seireng, [[Padma Vibhushan]] awardee Indian Bengali scholar [[Suniti Kumar Chatterji]] commented on Hijam Anganghal, the author and the epic, like this:
{{Blockquote|"I think the entire work should be published and that will at once raise the prestige and dignity of Manipuri literature; and an abstract of the poem in English with translations of typical passages, and a critical study of it, will be desideratum in Indian literature bringing home to the rest of India and to the world what important things, important from the point of view of voicing the aspirations, the ideals and the social and cultural milieu of a whole people are being done in this distant corner of India. The position of our Poet is comparable to that of Rabindranath Tagore in Bengali and Modern Indo-Aryan literature."|[[Suniti Kumar Chatterji]]<ref name=":AIR"/>}}

Writing on Akashwani [[All India Radio]] (AIR), L. Damodar Singh said about the literary work as:
{{Blockquote|“It is one of the finest stories in literature produced by the [[Sino-Tibetan]] people in India.” . . . “A gem of a literature which may be compared to any great epic rediscovers the glory of ancient [[Moirang]], the cradle of Manipuri civilisation. It is truly an epic, dignified and elaborate with epic breadth of vision, richness of details, directness of ideas and a faithful portrayal of national life and manners.”|L. Damodar Singh|[[All India Radio]] (AIR)<ref name=":AIR" />}}

Some scholars compare the Khamba Thoibi Seireng with the [[Shahnamah]], the national epic of [[Persia]] and the [[Kalevale]], the national epic of [[Finland]], as well as the [[Sigurd the Volsung]] by [[William Morris]].<ref name=":AIR"/>

== Translations ==
{{Further|Khamba and Thoibi#Editions}}
The poem was translated into English by Dr. Jodhachandra Sanasam in 2017, for which he received the prestigious Nongthombam Kunjamohan Singh Translation Award 2017, bestowed by the Sahitya Thoupanglup.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jodhachandra Sanasam Sahityabhusan 2017 |url=http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=features.Profile_of_Manipuri_Personalities.Manipur_State_Kala_Akademi_Award_2011_Winners.Jodhachandra_Sanasam_Sahityabhusan_2017 |website=e-pao.net |quote=And he was also awarded with Dr. Kamal Kabiratna Ningsing Sel Mana 2014 by Manipuri Sahitya Parishad Imphal for his novel Leisat Tamle Nanggidamak and for his English translation of Khamba Thoibi Seireng he was honoured with Sahitya Thoupanglup's Nongthombam Kunjamohan Singh Translation Award 2017.}}</ref>

== Public response ==
In the year 2014, an academic symposium on the topic ''"Khamba Thoibi Seirengda Mityeng Ama"'' ({{langx|mni|{{script|Mtei|ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡꯗ ꯃꯤꯠꯌꯦꯡ ꯑꯃ}}||A perspective on the Khamba-Thoibi Poem}}), regarding the epic poetry of Hijam Anganghal, was organised by ''"Nongchup Haram Khorjei Lup"'' (NAHAKHOL) at Public Theatre Hall, [[Nambol]] Phoijing in [[Bishnupur district]]. A book titled ''"Khamba-Thoibi Seirengda Mityeng"'' was also published by NAHAKHOL on the occasion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://e-pao.net/Gp.asp?src=30..240914.sep14|title=Symposium on Khamba-Thoibi : 24th sep14 ~ E-Pao! Headlines|website=e-pao.net}}</ref>

The "Hijam Anganghal Singh Memorial Lecture 2020-21" was organised at the Artistes’ Dormitory of the Directorate of Arts and Culture in [[Imphal]] by the Manipur State Kala Akademi. In the event, scholars discussed about the "Khamba Thoibi Sheireng", as a great contribution of Hijam Anganghal to [[Meitei literature]], that justifiably earned him the title "[[:en:wikt:महाकवि|Mahakavi]]" ({{translation|classical poet}}).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hijam Anganghal Singh Memorial Lecture held |url=https://www.ifp.co.in/manipur/hijam-anganghal-singh-memorial-lecture-held |access-date=1 January 2023 |website=[[Imphal Free Press]] |language=en |quote=In 1939, the poet compiled ‘Khamba Thoibi Sheireng’, an epic poem running over 39,000 lines depicting the immortal love of Khamba and Thoibi and completed it in 1940, he further said, adding this work, considered as the masterpiece of all his literary works, justifiably earned him the title ‘Mahakavi’.}}</ref>

== In popular culture ==
{{Further|Khamba and Thoibi#In popular culture}}
* ''"Khamba Thoibi"'' ({{langx|mni|{{script|Mtei|ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ}}}}) is a 1997 [[Meitei language]] feature film, based on the epic story by Hijam Anganghal, produced by Moirangthem Nilamani Singh for Anjana Films, and directed by M. Nilamani Singh.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 March 2016 |title=Manipuri Feature Films 1972 1997 - E-rang Classic :: E-pao Movie Channel |url=http://erang.e-pao.org/Classic/write/Manipuri_Feature_Films_1972_1997.php |access-date=31 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316224420/http://erang.e-pao.org/Classic/write/Manipuri_Feature_Films_1972_1997.php |archive-date=16 March 2016 |quote=30. Khamba Thoibi, 1997. 35mm colour. Based on a story by Hijam Anganhal. Produced by Moirangthem Nilamani Singh for Anjana Films. Direction: M.Nilamani Singh. Screenplay: M.Ibempishak. Music: A.Shyam. Casts: M.Amirkumar, M.Ashwinikumar, Sarjubala and others.}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Numit Kappa]]
* [[Akongjamba]] and [[Phouoibi]]
* [[Henjunaha and Lairoulembi]]
* [[Khuyol Haoba and Yaithing Konu]]
* [[Kadeng Thangjahanba and Tonu Laijinglembi]]
* [[Ura Naha Khongjomba and Pidonnu]]
* [[Wanglen Pungdingheiba and Sappa Chanu Silheibi]]

==Bibliography==
* [[iarchive:in.ernet.dli.2015.465982|Khamba Thoibi Seireng, by Hijam Anganghal Singh, 1986]]
* [[iarchive:in.ernet.dli.2015.466506|Moirang Kangleirol, Khuman Khamba Seitharon, by Laisram Mangi Singh, 1980]]
* [[iarchive:in.ernet.dli.2015.466278/mode/2up|Khamba Thoibi Seireng Ahumsuba Saruk, by Hijam Anganghal]]
* [https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.460207/2015.460207.Khamba-Thoibi_djvu.txt Full text of "Khamba Thoibi" and poems of Manipur]
* [[iarchive:in.ernet.dli.2015.467163|Samukhonggi Bichar, by Hijam Anganghal Singh, 1997]]
* [https://openlibrary.org/works/OL2312862W/Hijam_Anganghal_Singh Hijam_Anganghal_Singh, by Elangbam Dinamani]
* [[iarchive:in.ernet.dli.2015.158175|Abridged from T. C. Hodson's "The Meitheis", 1908]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Khamba Thoibi Sheireng}}
{{Wikiquote|Khamba Thoibi}}
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[[Category:Epic cycles of incarnations]]
[[Category:Khuman kingdom]]
[[Category:Indian literature]]
[[Category:Meitei folklore]]
[[Category:Meitei literature]]
[[Category:Keke Moirang]]

Khamba Thoibi Sheireng - Revision history

Mvjceng at 17:06, 4 April 2026