Khamba Thoibi

This article is about the epic poem. For dance form, see Khamba Thoibi Jagoi.

See also: List of characters in the Khamba Thoibi

Khamba Thoibi Sheireng

Author	Hijam Anganghal
Original title	ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡ
Country	Manipur (before merging into Indian Union)
Language	Meitei language (Manipuri language)
Subject	Meitei literature (Manipuri literature)
The legendary epic saga is based on the immortal love story of Prince Khuman Khamba and Princess Moirang Thoibi

The Khamba Thoibi (Meitei: ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ), originally known as the Khamba Thoibi Sheireng" (Meitei: ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡ, romanized: Kham-ba Thoi-bee Shei-reng, lit. 'Khamba Thoibi poem'), is a legendary Meitei language epic poem based on the 12th century love saga between Khuman prince Khuman Khamba and Moirang princess Moirang Thoibi in the antique kingdom of Ancient Moirang, a province in Ancient Manipur (Ancient Kangleipak). The poetry is composed by the legendary poet Hijam Anganghal and is regarded as the national epic of the Manipuri ethnicity. The poetry is the greatest of all the epic poetries in Meitei literature, with 34,000 verses, even longer than the Ramayana.

The epic saga is one of the major elements of the ancient body of chronicles Moirang Shayon (Moirang incarnations) as well as Moirang Kangleirol (ancient Moirang legends), the two of the greatest cultural resources of Ancient Manipur.

The events in the epic took place during the reign of King Chingkhu Telheiba (1093 AD-1148 AD) in Ancient Moirang. The saga is based mainly on romance, struggle, chivalry and intrigue, popularized by the bards of Moirang kingdom.

The romantic saga of Khuman Khamba and Moirang Thoibi has deep religious importance to the Meitei culture. The terms, "Khamba" means "Ultimate or fullness" and "Thoibi" means "Perfection of beauty and accomplishments".

There's also a folk dance of Meitei culture, under the same title Khamba Thoibi Jagoi, believed to be first performed by Khuman Khamba and Moirang Thoibi, in the Ibudhou Thangjing Temple, the shrine of Lord Eputhou Thangjing in Ancient Moirang.

Textual history

The Khamba Thoibi Sheireng is composed by Hijam Anganghal. Before the creation of the epic literary work, the saga was told in the form of folk songs as well as oral folklore in the antique kingdom of Ancient Moirang. However, after Hijam Anganghal's contribution of the poetry to Meitei literature, the tale was popularized throughout the nation in Modern Manipur.

Synopsis

Further information: Meitei literature

Khamba was a terrae filius, brought up by his elder sister Khamnu, who spared no pains for his safety and well-being. By the time he became a youth, he wanted to be of some help to his sister and came out in search of work. On the day he first moved out of his house, he happened to enter the residence of Chingkhu Nahaa Telheiba, the King's younger brother with its imposing house and spacious premises and there for the first time saw Thoibi, the only daughter of the prince, plying her needle in embroidery. The moment she saw Khamba, handsome and shapely in physique, she gave her heart away to him. But on the part of Khuman, at first he could not harbor such sentiments as he was conscious of his humble origin.

There's another man named Nongban, who worked as a foil to Khamba. For a long time, there's none in Moirang to beat him in race, wrestling and hockey, but with appearance of Khamba, he's deprived of this honor. At first, Chingkhu Nahaa Telheiba took kindly to Khamba and despite his offer to maintain the young man in his family, the latter insisted on singing for his supper which he did by tending the stall-fed fierce bull of the prince. As everybody was curious of Khamba for such a physical prowess, his sister then kept him hiding for sometime during which period Thoibi was heart broken pined to have a glimpse of him. But from the grace of Lord Eputhou Thangjing, the two again met on the Loktak lake and went on steady till the recalcitrant behavior and over zealous stance of Thoibi provoked her father to come in the way of the lovers in league with Nongban.

Khamba's gradual rise in popularity among the people and winning of the King's favour with the recognition of his identity on account of his superhuman feats in sports and capturing a wild bull singlehanded further incensed Chingkhuba. An abortive attempt was made on his life and subsequently Thoibi was sent to exile. But this act could not, in the least, crush the heart of the lover, for Thoibi on her being called back from disgrace had the opportune moment of joining with her love. Before the actual marriage took place and in a trial of fate, Nongban fell prey to a tiger which Khamba could overcome.

Structure

The epic contains 15 Pandups (units) as well as 81 Tangkaks (chapters). It consists of approximately thirty four thousand lines.

Pandups	Number of Tangkaks
1st Pandup	2
2nd Pandup	1
3rd Pandup	1
4th Pandup	2
5th Pandup	9
6th Pandup	4
7th Pandup	15
8th Pandup	2
9th Pandup	3
10th Pandup	1
11th Pandup	1
12th Pandup	5
13th Pandup	13
14th Pandup	21
15th Pandup	1

1st Pandup

In the 1st Pandup, there are two tangkaks.

Tangkaks	Names of the tangkaks
1st tangkak	San Senba
2nd tangkak	Khamba amuk lotkhiba

2nd, 3rd and 4th Pandups

• The 2nd Pandup has only one tangkak named Kaang Saanaba .
• The 3rd Pandup has only one tangkak named Een Chingba .
• The 4th Pandup has two tangkaks, first one is Kangjei but the second one is unnamed.

5th Pandup

tangkaks	Names of the tangkaks
1st tangkak	Lei Hekpa
2nd tangkak	_
3rd tangkak	_
4th tangkak	Phee waiba
5th tangkak	Lei Laangba
6th tangkak	_
7th tangkak	Leiron
8th tangkak	Lei yenba
9th tangkak	Jagoi

6th to 11th Pandups

• The 6th Pandup has four tangkaks, first is Lamjel , while the remaining are unnamed.
• The 7th Pandup has fifteen tangkaks, with the first one being Kau , while the rest being unnamed.
• The 8th Pandup has two tangkaks, first being Ukai , but the second is unnamed.
• The 9th Pandup has three tangkaks, the first is Heijing , but the rest are unnamed.
• The 10th Pandup has a single tangkak, named Torbung Sadanba .
• The 11th Pandup has only one tangkak, Samukhong .

12th Pandup

tangkaks	Names of the tangkaks
1st tangkak	Samukhong gi Bichaar (Waarep)
2nd tangkak	_
3rd tangkak	_
4th tangkak	Samukhong gi Sokpadagi Khamba Naaba
5th tangkak	Chingkhuba bandidagi (cheiraaktagi) thadokpa

13th Pandup

tangkaks	Names of the tangkaks
1st tangkak	Loithaaba
2nd tangkak	_
3rd tangkak	_
4th tangkak	Thoibina Kabawda laakpa
5th tangkak	Kabawda thungba
6th tangkak	Kang Sanaba
7th tangkak	Sing Chanba
8th tangkak	Long Khonba
9th tangkak	Phee Saaba Taanaba
10th tangkak	Khamba na Kabawda Koiba
11th tangkak	Khamba na Kabawda Koiba gi Waathok amadi Bichaar (Waarep)
12th tangkak	_
13th tangkak	_

14th Pandup

tangkaks	Names of the tangkaks
1st tangkak	Loi Kaaba
2nd tangkak- 7th tangkak	_
8th tangkak	Kangla Bichaar (Waarep)
9th and 10th tangkak	_
11th tangkak	Thoibi na Taa Waiba Laakpa
12th tangkak	Khamba na Thonglen gida taa Waiba Laakpa
13th tangkak	Khamba Nongban anina kei phaaba Kummakpa
14th tangkak	Khamba Nongban anina pannung changba
15th tangkak	Ani Khatnaduna pannung dagi thorakpa
16th tangkak	Akonba pannung changba
17th tangkak	Khamba na Nongban poduna pannung dagi thorakpa
18th tangkak	Pannung mei Thaarakpa Khamba amuk changlakpa
19th tangkak	Phubala gi keibao purakpa hanuba
20th tangkak	Keigi manaa piba
21st tangkak	Konungda hallakpa

15th Pandup

The 15th Pandup has one tangkak, Khamba Thoibi Luhongba .

Translations

• Even before the creation of the epic poem, the already existing ancient legend was translated into English language and was published in the book The Meitheis, written by T.C. Hodson, in the year 1908.
• The Khamba Thoibi epic poetry was translated to English language, under the title "Khamba Thoibi and Poems on Manipur" by Vimala Raina, published at the Government Press, Manipur, in the year 1963.
• The direct English language version of the epic poem is translated by Dr. Jodhachandra Sanasam in 2017, for which he received the prestigious Nongthombam Kunjamohan Singh Translation Award 2017.
• The epic "Khamba Thoibi" is translated into Hindi language, by Sri Loitongbam Kalachand, which is published in the "E Pustakalaya".

Public response

• There is a cultural and historical museum in Ngangkhalawai village, Khamba Thoibi museum , which houses the traditional items used during the historic period, when Khamba and Thoibi were believed to be born.

• In the year 2014, a grand symposium was organized in Nambol, Manipur, where there was a grand discussion on the topic Khamba Thoibi Seirengda Mityeng Ama , regarding the epic poetry of great poet Hijam Anganghal.
• In the year 2019, in a mega exhibition held in Bhopal, India, the canvas Manipuri painting titled Khambana Kao Phaba , was shown.

In popular culture

Further information: Khamba Thoibi in popular culture

• Khamba Khamnu (1995), was produced by Chandam Shyamcharan for C.S. Films Imphal Production.
• Khamba Thoibi (1997), was directed and produced by Moirangthem Nilamani Singh for Anjana Films.
• There is a traditional folk song Moirang Sai (Tales from Moirang Khamba Thoibi) which has been endangered from a very long period of decades. However, recently, the ancient traditional folk music art, which covers 120 hours of performance, was revived by Mangka Mayanglambam, which attain great public reception.
• In the year 2010, the Laihui ensemble produces a drama, Kao The sacred bull , based on the saga of the orphan prince Khuman Khamba and his motherly sister Khamnu.
• A Manipuri feature film Langon, highlights the epic saga of the love between Khuman Khamba and Moirang Thoibi.
• There's an upcoming Manipuri 3D animation feature film under the title Khamba Thoibi, the epic.

Bibliography

• Full text of "Khamba Thoibi" and poems of Manipur

• Hijam_Anganghal_Singh, by Elangbam Dinamani