Understanding the Lupho, Lupheng, Misao and related clan

Lal Lupho *

In view of the fact that most of us are not aware of our true genealogical background; and we are eager to know it and hitherto to the fact that our local elders who depend upon words of mouth from the memory bank of community elders here is a brief account of the Hangmi pedigree.

The Lupho(Ngoilu), Lupheng(Lhanghal), Misao(Leivon & Neitham) and its related clan belong to Chin-kuki-Mizo ethnic group, they share common root, linguistic and cultural affinity with them. The other version revolves within the faith of emergence of their forefathers through a cave, according to which they are known as Khulmi (Khul=cave, mi=man). But they could not recount reminiscences about the exact location of the legendary cave.

Yet they identify themselves as having a distinct genealogical line from the party who cross from the sub terranian region to the outer world above, They belong to Hangmi pedigree (Hangmi-kuki Life and Lore P-234.T.S.Goswami-1985) who was born to Vumchom, Grandson of Chonkim. Hangmi or to put it the otherway way, Lupho had a close genelogical tree with Sailo of Mizoram. (Misao Inkon. Pu Shinghil. Pa Minluto. P-6.).

Origin: The Lupho (Ngoilu), Lupheng (Lhanghal), Misao (Leivon & Neitham) and related clan believe that they came through khul, which otherwise is recorded as Khul, sinlung or chinlung. According to their traditional folk history their proginator Hangmi once live in a sub-terranian world. And decided to come over to chungkho and They came over a great snake called Gul-Lheopi blocking their way.

So he along with his band of party including Chongthu, Zahong and others prepare an armour consisting of a long cotton shawl called Phoipi and head gear with sharp edge and killed the Serpant and cross over to the chungkho-gam . since he was a fearless warrior he was so called Hangmi pa.

Settlement: The villages of settlement in random order are

• Yangngoupoh,
• Maphou,
• Changoubung,
• Tonglhang,
• Misao-Lhahvom,
• Thangkanphai,
• N. Zilphai,
• Nungka,
• Govajang Lungphou,
• Molkon,
• Kangpokpi,
• Nongdam kuki,
• Molvom in Nagaland,
• Patlen ,
• Phaijang,
• Phailen,
• Siloijang,
• Simol,
• Maolhang,
• Phailengjang ,
• Leithao,
• M. Kholmol,
• Khomunnom,
• Vengnom,
• Twikham,
• Khaosat,
• N. Champhai and
• Molhoi

. They are also settled in North Cachar Hills and Karbi Anglong in Assam .

Social Structure: There are Many sub clan among the Lupho(Ngoilu), Lupheng(Lhanghal) , Misao(Leivon & Neitham ) clan and senority is identify by paying of sating ( meat piece in the back vertebra) to the elder .

Marriage : Like the other kuki-chin-Mizo clan marriage is done within matri-linear cross-cousin Marriage i.e. a boy has to marry his mother's brother's daughter. This type of marriage is arrange by parents of the boy and the girl. There is often a man who takes a woman as wife due to the premarital pregnancy. Such a marriage is called Jolgai.

There is also another type of marriage practiced locally called Kijammang (Elopement).

Bride Price: A bride price is one lutom(a fine cloth for the father) one laisui (a traditional cloth for her mother) and eight Mithun, one Dah(gong) and khichong(necklace). Fixation of price is done by council of Tu le Be of three member each from Bride and Groom side by cutting the feast animal liver with equivalent to bride price.

And equivalent of the bride price so paidon the day is adjusted with the pieces and the left over is understood to be paid later(credit) by the Groom party. While dahpi(gong) and khichang(necklace) is announce verbally. This system so rigidly followed in olden days is now hardly followed as the bride price is settle by the bride and the groom parents along with the house council.

Whether the marriage be of arrange or elopement in nature usually when the bride price has to be announce the bride parents and its household council hold feast and announce the bride price. And the Groom party is not allowed to hold feast for the announcement.

Birth And Naming Ceremony:

When a child birth is announce and brought to the maternal grandparents. The maternal grandparents killed a cock for a male child or a hen for a girl child and present feather and dried ginger to the child for a healthy life. And naming of the first born is done after the maternal grandparent's.

And naming ceremony is held when naojuneh(serving of rice-beer) is done. Traditionally the ceremony is held at the Oupa ( clan head) house or village.

Death and Burial Ceremony: In olden days the dead body is clean with warm water and after a clean bath it should be tight to sutkhom(Main pillar of the House) with Sanglai(frame made out of bamboo). The dead is buried in the courtyard. With the Christianization of the Hangmi pedigree they now buried the dead body in common burial place(cemetery).

They described death into two types -- Thise and Thipha (bad dead and good dead) Thise is unnatural death and bury the dead body outside the village and Thipha, natural death, bury the dead body inside the courtyard or in the village cemetery.

Economic Activity: Jhum or shifting cultivation is the main agricultural occupation . Rice is the staple food and supplemented by cash crops such as cucumber, Pumkin, Bean and other Jhum products.

Trade and commerce: They trade mainly with other kuki-chin-mizo clan , Meitei of Manipur valley and also with Burmese of Myanmar. Their main trading item include chillies, pumkin, cucumber, dried fish and meat etc. They also trade in Mithun, Gong and Buffalo.

Village Political organisation: Village administration is done by village chief, whose position is strictly hereditary and enjoy complete and absolute ownership of the village , Land and property. And is assisted by a village council members nominated by the village chief himself .

A hierarcy of the village chief- council members or Government are:

• Haosa or Chief,
• Semang Pachong or
• Mantri (nominated council members),
• Lhangsam (Informer),
• Villagers.

The present day villages are governed as per the village Authority Act, 1956. The chiefs still hold powers and privileges as the entire village land still belongs to him. He acts as ex-officio - Chairman of the village Authority. The Secretary and other members of village authority are now elected by the members of the village.

Folklore : some selected folklore.

Series-1;

Legend had it that Lhangeineng who was the most beautiful and charming lady, The Daughter of Lupho during the great flood( as mention in oral tradition) that submerge all land save the people .

As the flood was rising high the water echo the name Pho ..Pho . . . . .pho....so major families sacrifice their daughter mention can be made of Guite Family and Lienthang family etc in fear and later search out for what it was and later came to know that the God's of the sea had been calling upon Lhangeineng, They realise that the God\'s of sea were calling for sacrifice of Lupho Daughter, so all went in search of her and found her being hide by her parents.

Legend had it that her beauty enchant everything around her . ... so on fervent request and prayer of all to save them Lhangaineng gave herself up to the god\'s of the sea.

So after that the flood receed after the sacrifice of Lhangeineng , so after the flood was over Both Lupho and his wife went out in search of their belove daughter so it was said that the place where Lupho and his mistress tear fall became salt spring and chillies and Lhangeineng turn into fish. so they said that they should meet . so it is believe that Hangmi Pedigree ( or more precise Lupho clan) are forbidden to eat salt, chillies and fish .

Series-2;

Legend also had it that the Hangmi pedigree during their settlement at Phubala in thangjing hill and adjoining area of the Present Moirang subdivision of Manipur, India. They settle in the elsewhere Thangjing hills, were greatly blessed by the Thangjing diety who blessed them with Brave and Mighty son's and beautiful daughter they were so prosperous and strong.

Their historic dominance in Thangjing hill was an eye sore to the neighbour, The Moirang people in particular who were curious of the source of blessing.

They became envy of them, they wage a war against them without warning, so during the course of repeated invasion lasting several days they were eventually suppressed and their deity were snatch away from them and started worshipping it.

Like them the Moirang people were blessed with beautiful maiden and many young brave. Mention can be made of the legendary beauty of Thoibi till this days.

In the old days, the people of Phubala (literally means Revenge) and the people of Moirang communicated with a single dialect. Their customs and culture were also the same.

The other Chin-Kuki-mizo people in Moirang at the time are the Chothes. King Chothe Thangvai Pakhangba was also known as Thangvai Pakhangba or Ivang Purik Lai Thingri Nachousa. He ruled Moirang from BC 90' to AD 30, as recorded in the pre-history of Moirang.

According to folklore, they and the Chothes were at constant rivalry. The Chothes were assimilated to the Moirang people, partly prompted by the strenuous relations with them. (Zalengam-the kuki Nation. By P.S. Haokip ).

Present state : The Hangmi Pedigree ( or as is recorded, Milhiem' since he cut the serpent (Gul-lheopi ) into three pieces he was so nick-named , Mi-Man , Lhiem- cut into pieces.) at present scattered all across Manipur , Assam , Nagaland and Mizoram of which they are believe to be mostly concentrated in Manipur 'North east India and Saigang division of Myanmar.

Due to their weak political and economic condition many got assimilated and absorbed in other kinder tribe and sub group namely ; Kom, Maring, Lamkang, Paite, Vaiphei and Khongsai etc. of which some of this group make it a basis to called them their own because of the presence of the assimilated members which elders and intellectual of the Hangmi pedigree counter claim it and has been settle.

And their future solely depend on the younger generation who will stood the test of time and evolution.

They constitute a major partof the Larger Chin-kuki-Mizo community.

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* Lal Lupho contributes to e-pao.net regularly . The sender can be contacted at lal(dot)lupho(at)gmail(dot)com
This article was webcasted on July 12, 2009.

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