Khamba Thoibi Sheireng

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About: a Classical Meitei language epic poem

For other uses, see Khamba Thoibi Jagoi.

the general topic


Template:Infobox poem Template:Contains special characters

The Khamba Thoibi Sheireng, also spelled as the Khamba Thoibi Seireng (Template:Langx[1]), is a Classical Meitei language epic poem based on the ancient love story of Khuman prince Khamba and Moirang princess Thoibi of Ancient Moirang kingdomTemplate:Efn of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur).[2][3][4] It is the magnum opus of Hijam Anganghal, the "Bard of Samurou". It is regarded as the national epic of the Manipuris.[5][6][7] It is regarded as the greatest of all the epic poems in Meitei literature, with 39,000 verses, thereby being the third longest Indian epic poem, next to the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.[8][7][9]

The Khamba Thoibi Sheireng is often considered to be in a status of “mahakavya” (Template:Translation), and its author Hijam Anganghal as a “mahakavi” (Template:Translation). For composing the epic, Anganghal was honoured by the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, with the title “Kabiratna” in 1948.[10][11][12]

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,[13] as well as one of the 7 epic cycles of incarnations, constituting the Moirang Kangleirol of Ancient Moirang.[14][15]

Another remarkable achievement of Meitei cultural heritage, directly related to the Khamba Thoibi epic poem, is Khamba Thoibi Jagoi (Template:Langx), also known as Khamba Thoibi ballet,[16] which is a traditional Meitei ritualistic and theatrical classical dance form,[17] a part and parcel of the Lai Haraoba performances,[18] performed in honour of God Template:Langnf, the national deity of Ancient Moirang realm.[19][20][21] Notably, it is one of the classical cultural elements, giving inspirations to the rise of the Manipuri Raas Leela classical dance drama form.[22]

Textual history

The epic poem of the Khamba Thoibi Sheireng was developed by Hijam Anganghal from the "pena sheishak" style of the traditional ballads (Template:Langx) sung by minstrels with pena (musical instrument). It was adapted from the traditional Meitei ballad known as the "Khamba Thoibi ballad", which is practised even in present times, for a continuous duration of 20–30 days in diverse musical genres.[6][5][7]

The Khamba Thoibi Sheireng is regarded as the masterpiece of Hijam Anganghal. The literary work was started in the year 1939 and it was completed in the year 1940.[8]

Synopsis

Template:Further 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.[23]

Another man, Nongban, worked as a foil to Khamba. For a long time, there was no one in Moirang to beat him in 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.[23]

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.[23]

Structure

Template:Further The epic consists of approximately thirty four thousand 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: Template:Blockquote

Writing on Akashwani All India Radio (AIR), L. Damodar Singh said about the literary work as: Template:Blockquote

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.[9]

Translations

Template:Further 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.[24]

Public response

In the year 2014, an academic symposium on the topic "Khamba Thoibi Seirengda Mityeng Ama" (Template:Langx), 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.[25]

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 "Mahakavi" (Template:Translation).[26]

Template:Further

  • "Khamba Thoibi" (Template:Langx) 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.[27]

See also

Bibliography

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

  1. ↑ Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems{{#if:George|, George}. Sahitya Akademi(1992). ISBN 978-81-7201-324-0
  2. ↑ AKASHVANI: Vol. XXXIII, No.12 (17 MARCH, 1968){{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. All India Radio (AIR), New Delhi(17 March 1968)
  3. ↑ The great Meitei Reconciliation Process: Revisiting the classical folklore on "Emoinu Chakhong Ngahongbi" by Late Shri Ningomabam Angouton Meetei – KanglaOnline, KanglaOnline(4 April 2011). Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  4. ↑ The Penguin Book of Classical Indian Love Stories and Lyrics{{#if:Bond|, Bond}. Penguin UK(14 October 2000). ISBN 978-93-5118-814-8
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems{{#if:George|, George}. Sahitya Akademi(1992). ISBN 978-81-7201-324-0
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti{{#if:Datta|, Datta}. Sahitya Akademi(1988). ISBN 978-81-260-1194-0
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 A History of Indian Literature: 1911-1956, struggle for freedom : triumph and tragedy{{#if:Das|, Das}. Sahitya Akademi(2005). ISBN 978-81-7201-798-9
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :Datta
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :AIR
  10. ↑ মহাকবি হিজম অঙাংহলগী পোক্লফম শামুরৌ অমদি মহাক্কী পুন্সি খোঙচৎ. Hueiyen Lanpao.
  11. ↑ মণিপুরী ভাষার মহাকাব্য 'খম্বা-থোইবী শৈরেং'. sylhettoday24.news. Sylhet Today 24 News. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  12. ↑ সাহিত্যগী অখন্নবা লমায় - মহাকবি হিজম অঙাংহল. Hueiyen Lanpao.
  13. ↑ KIRATA-JANA-KRTI THE INDO-MONGOLOIDS : THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF INDIA{{#if:Chatterji|, Chatterji}. The Asiatic Society; Digital Library of India; Internet Archive(1951)
  14. ↑ Northeast India: A Reader{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Taylor & Francis(11 May 2018). ISBN 978-0-429-95320-0
  15. ↑ Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo{{#if:Datta|, Datta}. Sahitya Akademi(1987). ISBN 978-81-260-1803-1
  16. ↑ —Indian Ballet Dancing{{#if:Banerji|, Banerji}. Abhinav(1983). ISBN 978-0-391-02716-9
    —Khamba Thoibi And Poems On Manipur{{#if:Raina|, Raina}. Digital Library of India; Internet Archive(18 January 1963)
    —Indian Ballet Dancing{{#if:Banerji|, Banerji}. Abhinav(1983). ISBN 978-0-391-02716-9
  17. ↑ —Pathway Volume 41{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}(1988)
    —Dances of Manipur: The Classical Tradition{{#if:Doshi|, Doshi}. Marg Publications(1989). ISBN 978-81-85026-09-1
    —DM Silveira's India Book{{#if:Silveira|, Silveira}. Classic Publishers(1994). ISBN 978-81-900218-2-1
    —Mãrg{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}
    —Three Cheers – KanglaOnline, Khuraijam, Bobo(13 March 2011). Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  18. ↑ Indian Ballet Dancing{{#if:Banerji|, Banerji}. Abhinav(1983). ISBN 978-0-391-02716-9
  19. ↑ Everything Experiential | Khamba Thoibi Dance. Everything Experiential. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  20. ↑ Khamba Thaibi Dance. Indian Classical Folk & Tribal Dance(19 March 2012). Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  21. ↑ khamba Thoibi Folk Dance of Manipur. www.indianfolkdances.com. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  22. ↑ Dances Of India{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Har-Anand Publications Pvt. Limited(2010). ISBN 978-81-241-1337-0
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 A History of Manipuri Literature{{#if:Singh|, Singh}. Sahitya Akademi(1996). ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9
  24. ↑ Jodhachandra Sanasam Sahityabhusan 2017. e-pao.net.
  25. ↑ Symposium on Khamba-Thoibi : 24th sep14 ~ E-Pao! Headlines. e-pao.net.
  26. ↑ Hijam Anganghal Singh Memorial Lecture held. Imphal Free Press. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  27. ↑ Manipuri Feature Films 1972 1997 - E-rang Classic :: E-pao Movie Channel(16 March 2016). Retrieved 31 December 2022.

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