Legendary Koireng Heroes

Pao Winson Kipgen *

Koireng :: An Ethnic Doll display at Mutua Museum Cultural Heritage Complex, Andro

Besides Pu Nungnangchuong, a legendary Koireng warrior as well as leader of Thangching (Thangjing), there were other two/three more leaders among the Koirengs. One is called Pu Khuongtuksel also known as Ruongsakor. The meaning of Ruongsakor is "Jealousy for horse". He exchanged a number of his subjects with some four/five horses of Ahom king (now Assam). As such, his name was changed from Khuongtuksel to Ruongsakor.

Another two leaders were Pu Munchuong and Pu Munlian. These two leaders settled at Langol hills which they called "Langkuon". The Koirengs of Langol were very prosperous. Their tribute to the king was vegetables. It was during Maharaja Chandra Kriti's reign. Maharaja Chandra Kriti was known by the Koirengs as Rengwom meaning "Black King" or "King with dark complexion".

Maharaja Chandra Kriti came to know about the Koirengs at Langol because of their plentiful tribute. Whatever tribute brought by them were the best among the tributes from all villages. One day, the Maharaja decided to pay a visit to the Langol Koirengs and informed them about his plan. According to the tradition of the Koirengs, the visit of a king to a village was a curse (not good for the village). But since the king had decided, the villagers could not refuse. So, the king visited the Koirengs of Langol.

The king witnessed their prosperity, such as their common granary (paddy barn) and Sier (dormitory); how they kept deadly weapons such as bows and arrows, spears, swords, shields 'and many others. The king suggested and requested the Koirengs to construct one common granary named after the Koirengs and which would be taken care of by the Koirengs.

The Koirengs accepted the request of the king. So, the granary (barn) was given the name "Koireng kei". As time passed, Koirengkei got corrupted into Koirengei. Some experts also say that Changangei was former known as Chakngan kei meaning "a barn of roasted rice".

After few years, the king decided to shift the Langol Koirengs at Chingphei hill, in the northeast of Awang Sekmai as defenders of Manipur (Kangleipak). Koireng song describes thisd migration. The song goes as "Kuonkho Chunga Nichuonga Renwon Tangsan Pheikho Nihong Oiya E" meaning of which is "From Langol hills the Koireng elders visioned Chingphei hill." Thus the Koirengs of Langol shifted to Chingpei hill.

Just a year after their settlement at Chingphei, the two leaders Pu Munchuong and Pu Munlian killed one mad wild elephant. The elephant destroyed the public property and lives. So, at the request of the public, Pu Munchuong killed the elephant. Pu Munchuong killed the elephant with "Shaipi Chei" (Shaipi = elephant, chei = spear).

Pu Munchuong offered the elephant tusk to the king and related the story of how he killed the elephant and why he killed it. The king was very happy to know about it because Munchuong saved the lives and properties of the people from mad wild elephant. Again in the following year, Maharaja Chandra Kriti paid a visit to the Koirengs of Chingphei and witnessed their prosperity.

The king gave the name "Chetpan" to the village, which is derived from the phrase "Chetna paalle chetpan" meaning, "A stable and prosperous settlement". The Koirengs of Chingphei, however, could not pronounce the word properly. So, they called it "Ekwan" which was a corrupt form of "Chetpan". Later the Meiteis called it "Ekpan".

Lastly but not the least, the Koirengs being one of the oldest settlers of Manipur hills, most of the areas in Manipur particularly Moirang, Thangjing, Tera Khongsangbi, Nongmaijing ching etc are mentioned in the Koireng folk songs. The songs are as follows:

1. Nule nuphai joe Meilang (Moirang) le ba a nule nuphaiyo,
kadileba setang kanphoipi,
oye meilangle nuphaiyo
(Oh the valley of Moirang,
the place where I used to roam with my beloved,
oh Moirang valley).

2. He Thangching (Thangjing) a khuongruo kairieiya,
he Thangchinga khuongruo kairieiya kadile chuonsam kairieiya.
He Thangchinga khuongruo cheksieiya,
he Thangchinga khuongruo cheksieiya kadile phoiha chek-sieiya.
(Oh the gentle rain of Thangjing hill.
You make the hair of my beloved fall gently.
Oh the bright rain of Thangjing.
You make the teeth of my beloved glitter).

3. Khuongle khuongsangbio Teraleba dile khuong-sangbi.
Naparro chuoite,
nukung chuoinoni oiye Terale Khuongsangbi.
Khuongle khuongsangbio Teraleba dile khuongsangbi natunga
chuoite naming chuoinoni oiye teralale khuongsangbi
(Oh Tera Khongsangbi!
even if your flower shall fade away,
your stump shall never die.
Oh Tera Khongsangbi even if your stump perishes,
your name shall endure forever).

4. Han lei om rodo,
han lei ngirro andi langmai,
nangko hanlei ngirro.
(Oh dear langmai,
you stand and keep watching there).

This is how the history of the Koirengs is recorded in the books of British writers, the chronicles of Manipur and in the folk songs of the tribe. May God bless all the indigenous communities of Manipur- Kangleipak.