Vaipheis recall first settlement
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 27 2011: Commemorating the first peaceful settlement of Vaiphei group of people in the northern part of Manipur, Thangzing Lap, 2011 was celebrated at Salam Patong in Senapati district today along with a cultural extravaganza.

Organised jointly by Salam Patong Village Authority, Salam Patong Sporting Youth Club and Zillai Eastern Block, the celebration was attended by Commissioner in-charge of Co-operation Paulunthang Vaiphei, IAS as chief guest, Khullakpa of Salam Patong Manglian Vaiphei as functional president and MCS Officer SL Lunneilal Vaiphei and president of Zillai Gen HQs Lamkhogen Vaiphei as guests of honour.

Delivering the key note address, president of All Manipur Christian Organisation (AMCO) Rev Prim Vaiphei informed that Vaipheis have migrated from Chin hills of Burma, now Myanmar, around 250 years back.

''At that time, our forefathers came together as one saying they were heading to Meitei Khul.

During the time of King Gambhir Singh, the Vaipheis stayed for sometime in Natok Khul.

From there, they shifted to Mahadeva.

Later on, the King made them to stay in Mahabali'', Rev Prim recalled, adding that while staying at Mahabali, the King ordered all the able Vaiphei men to hold guns and all the Vaiphei women to hold brooms but the order was rejected.

After long years of fighting with different groups of people, the war wearied Vaipheis came down to settle peacefully for the first at Salam Patong.

In the Manipur Gazette, it has been mentioned that the Vaipheis came to settle in Salam Patong in 1830, Rev Prim pointed out.

To commemorate peaceful settlement at Salam Patong for the first time, the Vaipheis celebrated Thangzing Lap for three months.

It is in remembrance of that event that Thangzing Lap is being celebrated today, Rev Prim explained.

He went on to inform that the present Salam Patong village is of recent origin.

When the Vaipheis came to settle for the first time, it was atop a hill located little further from the present village.

The village has been named by the King after the then Khullakpa.

Even though the exact population of Vaipheis at that time is not known, today there are more than 100 Vaiphei households in Salam Patong.

Settlement of around another 30 villages of Vaipheis have also spread in the northern part of Manipur.

Those who are presently in Churachandpur district have come to settle only recently.

On the relation between the Vaipheis and Meiteis, Rev Prim further informed that when Meitei king Ngameingam (Chandrakirti) invaded Tedim, 59 soldiers who participated in the campaign belonged to Vaiphei community.

Though the campaign was not successful, the Vaiphei soldiers brought the Meitei king to the palace safely.

To indicate the site in Salam Patong where the first peaceful settlement of war wearied Vaipheis has taken place, a monolith has been erected.

The site locally known as Hajing Lap Suang is being revered by all the Vaipheis.

Today's commemorative function was also held at the same site.

Other dignitaries who spoke at the occasion expressed their wish for organising the celebration on a larger scale in the years to come.

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