The Curious Case of 'Choudhury" surname among Manipuri Muslims (Pangals)

Siraj Makakcha *

While discussion, debate, argument, counter argument, opinion and analysis on the dawn of 'Choudhury' surname among the community continues unabated. Here is an overdose of factual resources that'll surely leave you with constipation.

Consult your physician where necessary and take the pills where required. But no opinion or comments without a logic. I will just delete them, it's my page.

In my previous posts I have made the following opinions/observations/arguments/contests, that:

1. Pangals, by virtue of being first settled in Manipur were given surnames according to one's trade, stature and skills by the Meetei Kings. No "Choudhury Mayum", right?

2. The first settlers in Manipur were devoid of Mashuwas and Maimals (no explanation needed), so no 'Maimal Mayum", "Mashuwa Mayum", "Mayang Mayum" et. al., yaareko.

3. Many mashuwa's and maimal's have migrated to Manipur assimilating with the local population by becoming Pangals and Meeteis, e.g. A mashuwa bangal with "Choudhury" surname migrate to Manipur marries a Pangal woman and gave his surname to the offspring's. Possible, right. You can't discount this theory. There are Pangals with Mashuwa/Maimal lineage.

4. Mashuwa/Maimal, too are humans, they are so called because of their profession. Many Pangals and Meiteis are also in this profession. What's wong?

5. It's quite possible many Pangals may have mashuwa ancestry. Don't know which clan or where they settled, difficult to ascertain in the ocean of Pangal Choudhury. Anthropologists needed for the job, not language scholars.

6. A Pangal Choudhury (read DC Helim Choudhury) from Cachar too migrated to Manipur and progressed. Thanks to (L) Md. Alimuddin, the first Chief Minister of the full-fledged state of Manipur. I am not saying the departed Choudhury had mashuwa ancestry.

7. The importance of naming one's surname in accordance with one's culture, tradition, ancestry, this will avoid many a conflict and confusion with the changing times. I didn't say, this will solve world problems.

8. The so-called conferring of Choudhury title by the wicked Cachari king, based on the social status and holding of land (zamindari) among Pangals is a myth. Many learned historians opined that titles were sold by the morally and economically broke king. (Eeromba da ngari hapnaba leitaba ningthou.). Are "Choudhury" so cheap a tribal king can peddle it at will. It was fitting that the Cachari king Govinda Chandra was killed by a meetei prince. This is pure history. No fiction.

9. Success has many parents, with the success and stature DC Helim Choudhury achieved, many Pangals adopted Choudhury surname. It adds to their bulging ego, and a sense of pride. Thanks also to Moinul Hoque Choudhury, the Bangali Muslim scholar, politician and social worker. Surely, it takes to be a Choudhury. Well, it was in the past.

10. Also, for the fact that many early schools where Cachar Pangals enrolled were in bangali dominated areas. They have had Bangali teachers and those teachers might have appended Choudhury to many gullible students. What do you think, a couple of elderly Pangal Choudhury could have produced so many choudhurys in less than 180 years (Govinda Chandra was assassinated in 1830).

11. Curiosity increases when no Meetei Choudhry exited to this day in Cachar. Govinda Chandra was prejudiced towards the Meetei because he knew of his final days. Ha ha.

12. I don't see any logical theory or fact from the current Pangal Choudhurys, whose forefathers have scrounged Choudhury title from Cachari king. Scrounged may be too harsh, read bought.

Since I do not intend to earn a Ph. D. and teach at a college to prove a point, I rest this curiosity wide open. Feel free to peddle this material or enlighten yourself with a visit to the nearest library. History is interesting and I remain a student of history without being enrolled in a class.

Goodbye till the next post. Keep burning.