TabathaLea97053: created initial entry basic info.

2026-02-26T21:11:44Z

created initial entry basic info.

New page

{{Contains special characters|Meitei}}

'''Haodijam Chaitanya ({{Script|Mtei|ꯍꯥꯎꯗꯤꯖꯝ ꯆꯩꯇꯅ꯭ꯌꯥ}})''', also known as '''Haodijamba Chaitanya ({{Script|Mtei|ꯍꯥꯎꯗꯤꯖꯥꯝꯕꯥ ꯆꯩꯇꯅ꯭ꯌꯥ}})''', or '''Haodeijamba Chaitanya Singha''',<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.465595|title=Haodeijamba Chaitanya Singhagi Lairikshing Punshinba|last=Sanahal Singh|first=rajkumar|date=1982}}</ref> was an early social and literary reformer from [[Manipur]]. He played an important role in social movements, public service, and the early development of printed literature in the [[Meitei literature]] ([[Manipuri language]]).<ref name=":0">Manihar Singh, Ch. A History of Manipuri Literature. India: Sahitya Akademi, 1996.</ref><ref>Parratt, John. Wounded Land: Politics and Identity in Modern Manipur. India: Mittal Publications, 2005.</ref>

== Early life ==

Haodijamba Chaitanya was born as Haodijam Chaitanya Singh in [[Shillong]] in 1867. He was the son of Haodijam Gokul Singh, also called Polando Singh, who worked as a [[:en:wikt:syce|syce]] (horsekeeper) for Col. Kittinge, the Chief Commissioner of [[Assam]], during the rule of Maharaja [[Chandrakirti Singh]].
His family title was Haodijam, which led to the form Haodijamba Chaitanya.<ref name=":1">Insights of the Western Missionaries Legacy in Manipur. N.p.: Blue Rose Publishers, 2021.</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>Indian Literature Since Independence: A Symposium. India: Sahitya Akademi, 1973.</ref>

Chaitanya studied in a mission school and grew up in a cosmopolitan environment. He became fluent in [[Bengali language|Bengali]], English, and [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]], along with his [[Meitei language|own language]]. Because of his education and upbringing in a city, he was considered more advanced in outlook than many people of his time.<ref name=":2">Das, Sisir Kumar. A History of Indian Literature. India: Sahitya Akademi, 2005.</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

After fifteen years of service in a government office, his father returned to [[Imphal]]. Soon after the [[Anglo-Manipur War|Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891]], Chaitanya worked as a postal overseer on the Cachar–Manipur Road. In 1895, he joined the State Office (later the State Secretariat) as a [[Tehsil|Tehsildar]] Clerk.<ref name=":0" />

== Social reform activities ==

=== Opposition to slavery and abuse of power ===

Chaitanya first opposed the actions of royalty and nobility who ignored British orders banning the keeping of slaves. When the king’s elder brother was involved in an incident, Chaitanya worked with the police, with support from the [[Political general|Political Agent]], and succeeded in freeing two bonded slaves.<ref name=":0" />

He also appealed to the Political Agent to stop the queen mother from making harmful appointments and dismissals in offices and royal institutions. This action helped reduce public dissatisfaction.<ref name=":0" />

=== Conflict with Maj. Maxwell ===

In 1892, Maj. Maxwell, who later became the Political Agent of Manipur, took Sanatombi, daughter of former Maharaja [[Surachandra Singh|Surchandra Singh]] and wife of Nongmaithem Manikchand, as his concubine. This shocked orthodox Manipuri society, especially because a woman of royal blood was living with a foreigner.<ref name=":0" />

With Chaitanya’s help, Manikchand submitted a strong complaint to Maxwell, accusing him of adultery and requesting compensation for marriage expenses. Maxwell suspected Chaitanya’s involvement and removed him from his job. When he returned as Political Agent in 1900, he expelled Chaitanya from Manipur on weak grounds.<ref name=":0" />

Chaitanya appealed to the [[Viceroy of India]] and was allowed to return in 1905.<ref name=":0" />

=== Later exile ===

Chaitanya later led a people’s movement to end [[Forced labor|forced labour]] in Manipur. Because of this, he was expelled again in 1915 by Col. Cole, the Political Agent at the time. His appeals for return and for a pension were ignored, and he lived the rest of his life in poverty in [[Cachar kingdom|Cachar]].<ref name=":0" />

== Character and interests ==

Official records state that Chaitanya was competent and dutiful in his service. Although he earned a modest income and lived simply, he enjoyed hunting on horseback. He was deeply aware of [[Meitei culture|the cultural heritage of his people]].<ref name=":0" />

== Contribution to Meitei literature ==

Chaitanya played a leading role in the early printing of Manipuri books in [[Meitei language|the vernacular language]], using [[Bengali script]]. This was notable at a time when printing presses were rare in the region.<ref>Mohanty, P. K.. Encyclopaedia of Scheduled Tribes in India: In Five Volume. India: Isha Books, 2006.</ref><ref name=":0" />

A Manipuri translation of [[the Bible]] in [[Devanagari script]] had been printed at [[Serampore]] in 1824, but it was not widely circulated.<ref name=":0" />

=== Published works ===

Chaitanya is credited with four published works:<ref name=":0" />

1. Khamba Thoibigi Warini (1899)

2. Khahi Ngamba (1900)

3. Thakhel Ngamba (1902)

4. Chingthangkhomba (1902)<ref>Northeast India: A Reader. India: Taylor & Francis, 2018.</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

Another work, ''Manipurer Itihas'', describes the history of Manipur beginning from [[Hindu mythology]]. Because the book has no author’s name, its authorship is uncertain, though its prose style suggests Chaitanya’s influence. It was printed by the [[Baptist Missions|Baptist Mission]] and published by the Political Agent, Manipur, in 1890. It is considered the first printed work in Manipuri about Manipur in Bengali script.<ref name=":0" /><ref>Problems of Modern Indian Literature. India: Statistical Pub. Society : distributor, K. P. Bagchi, 1975.</ref>

=== Description of works ===

; Khamba Thoibigi Warini

This book describes the ideal love story of [[Khamba and Thoibi]]. Chaitanya said it was a transliteration of an old text in the indigenous script, but its style and content suggest otherwise. The prose is simple and resembles paraphrased versions commonly sung by professional ballad singers.<ref name=":0" />

The work includes details rarely mentioned elsewhere, such as the marriage of [[Khamnu]] (Khamba’s elder sister) to Pheirojamba, the birth of their child, and the tragic end of [[Khuman Khamba|Khamba]] and [[Thoibi]]. Chaitanya also used punctuation and chapter headings, which were largely absent in traditional manuscripts.<ref name=":0" />

; Khahi Ngamba

This is a prose version of [[Khahi Ngamba|an original manuscript]]. Chaitanya showed a good knowledge of [[Old Manipuri]] and wrote in a distinct [[Modern Manipuri]] style. Apart from small differences—such as the absence of the opening prayer, new names for the king and his men, and the omission of a note about its composition during Maharaja Chandrakirti’s time—the content closely follows the original. It was printed by Abdul Raham at the Chronicle Press, [[Sylhet]].<ref name=":0" />

; Thakhel Ngamba

This is also a prose version of [[Takhel Ngamba|an original manuscript]], with only two important differences. Chaitanya addressed the opening prayer to [[Hindu deities|Hindu gods]] instead of [[Meitei deities]] and the king, and he omitted the part where King [[Gharib Niwaz (Manipur)|Garibniwaj]] takes a new name after conquering Samsok in [[Burma]]. It was printed by Charuchandra Ghosh at the Chronicle Press, Sylhet.<ref name=":0" />

; Chingthangkhomba

Chaitanya’s last published work retells the life story of the Meitei king [[Ching-Thang Khomba|Chingthangkhomba]].<ref name=":0" /> It includes episodes such as:

* the [[Ancient Moirang|Moirang]] king’s demand for land

* the [[Chahi Taret Khuntakpa|Burmese invasion]] supported by the [[Keke Moirang|Moirang]] king

* the capture of princes [[Labanyachandra|Labyanachandra]] and [[Madhuchandra Singh|Modhuchandra]]

* Chingthangkhomba’s stay at the Assamese court

* his taming of [[Shamu (Meitei culture)|a wild elephant]]

* his return to Manipur after defeating the Burmese

* the death of his maternal uncle

* the installation of the idol of [[Krishna|Sri Krishna]] after a divine command in a dream<ref name=":0" />

The language includes some Bengali words and shows Bengali influence in spelling. Even so, Chaitanya’s works mark an important stage in the development of Manipuri prose and show the growth of [[Modern Meitei|Modern Manipuri]].<ref name=":0" />

== See also ==
* [[Lai Haraoba]]
* [[Umang Lai]]
* [[Khamba Thoibi Sheireng]]
* [[Numit Kappa]]

== References ==
{{Notelist}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chaitanya, Haodijam}}
[[Category:Meitei people]]
[[Category:Meitei literature]]
[[Category:Hindus]]
[[Category:1867 births]]
[[Category:People from the Kingdom of Manipur]]
[[Category:People from Shillong]]
[[Category:Indian poets]]
[[Category:Social reformers]]
[[Category:Multilingual poets]]
[[Category:Year of death missing]]

Haodijam Chaitanya - Revision history

TabathaLea97053: created initial entry basic info.