Keibu Keioiba

Keibu Keioiba
Grouping	Legendary creatures
Sub grouping	Mythological hybrids
Country	India (Manipur)
Region	Manipur

Keibu Keioiba (Meitei: ꯀꯩꯕꯨ ꯀꯩꯑꯣꯏꯕ; Old Manipuri: ꯀꯩꯄꯨ ꯀꯩꯑꯣꯢꯄ; Bengali: কৈবু কৈওইবা) or Kabui Keioiba (Meitei: ꯀꯕꯨꯏ ꯀꯩꯑꯣꯏꯕ; Old Manipuri: ꯀꯄꯨꯢ ꯀꯩꯑꯣꯢꯄ; Bengali: কবুই কৈওইবা) is a mythical creature having a tiger head and the human body, often described as half man and half tiger in Meitei folklore and mythology.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5] Legend says he was once a skilful priest named Kabui Salang Maiba, who with his witchcraft, transfigured himself into the form of a ferocious tiger. As a punishment of his pride, he could not completely turn back to his original human form.^[6]

Story

This is a story of a kind, dedicated and skilled ancient physician, who used to ride on a horse and visit places to heal those suffering ailments. As his knowledge and skill kept on increasing day by day, he kept on wanting to learn more and more. At a time, he was able to do whatever he wanted. He kept on conducting experiments until he decided to turn himself into a tiger one day, for he wanted the power of a tiger.^[7]^[8]^[9]

He taught his wife how to help him turn into a tiger and how to return to his human form. But, as soon as he became the tiger-like creature Keibu Keioiba, he developed the tiger instinct of roaring and frightening people. So, his wife ran away from him before he could be subjected to return to his human form. Instead, he even tried to kill his wife and ran away in the wild far from home.^[10]^[11]^[12]

When he got hungry, he would come to human villages to steal poultry or fish or livestock, as he never learned how to hunt like a real tiger in the wild. He became the feared and the hated. He began to target humans for food.^[13]^[14]^[15]

He came to a village and took a young girl called Thabaton, who was home alone, left by her seven brothers for work. He was avenged by the brothers and the girl was saved.^[16]^[17]^[18]^[19]

Moral

The story depicts the never-ending desire of man for getting more which ultimately ruins himself. It teaches a lesson to us about the evil effects of this human nature. We can witness many examples of this today- e.g., global warming because of the never-ending industrial race, world devastation by never ending arms race in world wars, etc.

Impact on society

Almost every Manipuri grow up listening to this folktale from their elders. It is a common story told to kids over many generations.

Film

A 2D Manipuri animated film, Keibu Keioiba, has been made, directed by Bhumenjoy Konsam, released in 2009, based on the original folktale.

Sources

Meitei Mythology & Folklore

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[1] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=xfDNm96yCPIC&printsec=copyright&source=gbs_pub_info_r#v=snippet&q=Kabui%20Keioiba%20half%20man%20half%20tiger&f=false

[2] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=q5eBAAAAMAAJ&q=kabui+keioiba+half+man+half+tiger&dq=kabui+keioiba+half+man+half+tiger&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjEv9HiqfTxAhU4umMGHfSXAmMQ6AEwBHoECAgQAw

[3] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=jsRcCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA134&dq=kabui+keioiba+half+man+half+tiger&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjEv9HiqfTxAhU4umMGHfSXAmMQ6AEwBXoECAQQAw#v=onepage&q=kabui%20keioiba%20half%20man%20half%20tiger&f=false

[4] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=ioyfAAAAMAAJ&q=kabui+keioiba+half+man+half+tiger&dq=kabui+keioiba+half+man+half+tiger&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjEv9HiqfTxAhU4umMGHfSXAmMQ6AEwCHoECAoQAw

[5] ttps://books.google.co.in/books?id=naQYAQAAIAAJ&q=kabui+keioiba+half+man+half+tiger&dq=kabui+keioiba+half+man+half+tiger&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjFzt6tqvTxAhXP4zgGHWD0DvM4ChDoATAAegQIChAD

[6] B. Jayantakumar Sharma. "Keibu Keioiba – Fungawari Singbul". E-Pao.

[7] ttp://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageSelector.asp?src=Keibu_Keioiba_By_Nganthoi_Lourembam&ch=manipur&sub1=Folks&sub2=Folk_Tales

[8] ttp://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageSelector.asp?src=Kabui_Keioiba_and_Lai_Khutsangbi_Stories_of_Hunger_By_James_Oinam&ch=manipur&sub1=Folks&sub2=Folk_Tales

[9] ttp://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Folks.Taming_Keibu_Keioiba

[10] ttp://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageSelector.asp?src=Keibu_Keioiba_By_Nganthoi_Lourembam&ch=manipur&sub1=Folks&sub2=Folk_Tales

[11] ttp://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageSelector.asp?src=Kabui_Keioiba_and_Lai_Khutsangbi_Stories_of_Hunger_By_James_Oinam&ch=manipur&sub1=Folks&sub2=Folk_Tales

[12] ttp://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Folks.Taming_Keibu_Keioiba

[13] ttp://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageSelector.asp?src=Keibu_Keioiba_By_Nganthoi_Lourembam&ch=manipur&sub1=Folks&sub2=Folk_Tales

[14] ttp://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageSelector.asp?src=Kabui_Keioiba_and_Lai_Khutsangbi_Stories_of_Hunger_By_James_Oinam&ch=manipur&sub1=Folks&sub2=Folk_Tales

[15] ttp://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Folks.Taming_Keibu_Keioiba

[16] Sumitra Thoidingjam. "Taming 'Keibu Keioiba': Translation as Recovery". E-Pao.

[17] ttp://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageSelector.asp?src=Keibu_Keioiba_By_Nganthoi_Lourembam&ch=manipur&sub1=Folks&sub2=Folk_Tales

[18] ttp://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageSelector.asp?src=Kabui_Keioiba_and_Lai_Khutsangbi_Stories_of_Hunger_By_James_Oinam&ch=manipur&sub1=Folks&sub2=Folk_Tales

[19] ttp://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Folks.Taming_Keibu_Keioiba

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