Daimalu

Jwhwlao Dwimalu is a legendary Bodo-Dimasa hero and an army general of the ancient golden period of the 8th century undivided Kachari kingdom. Jwhwlao means “brave” or “warrior” in Bodo. He was a legendary Dimasa hero named Veer Demalik Kemprai/Sengyah Dehmalu by the Dimasa people of the ancient golden period of 13th century Dimasa kingdom. A statue of Jwhwlao Dwimalu carrying his bow and arrows can be seen pointing his hand to the sky near the National Highway 27 of India in Kharigaon in the Kokrajhar district. The road from Kharigaon to the south end of the Kokrajhar town road is also named after him.

Statue of Jwhwlao Dwimalu at Kokrajhar

History (Dimasa)

Sengyah Dehmalik was born on August 15 (Saturday) 1215 AD at a place in capital Dimapur during the reign of Raja Makardhwaj Narayan Thaosen of Hidimba Kingdom. His father's name is Dechangdao Kemprai and mother's name is RhibangdiThaosen as father's side clan. An earthquake took place along with his birth and then Dimaraja became surprised and He (Raja) went to see Dehmalik.

His parents were devotees of BraiShivarai. In his early childhood, Dehmaly became an orphan and was brought up by his grandmother until he was seven years old. Later on, he was engaged in an appointment of the kitchen room of Sengyah Rangadao, Dehgadao Daolaguphu, two state commanders of King Makardhwaj Narayan Thaosen.

Another anecdote was thrown like that when he was born. He grew faster than most of his age and during that period he killed two fierce tigers at once without using his arms. From that time onwards he came to be known as Sengyah or Veer. In his early childhood, when he was busy washing the kitchen materials and utensils, he got another claim to fame and came to be known as Sengyah (VEER).

Sengyah Dehmalik was a devotee of BraiShivarai from his early childhood. He was said to be sober in food and drink and used to live a disciplined life with prayer and yoga practices. This later caused disfavor among the obstinate Dimasa people and the ruling houses in particular.

One day, pleased with his devotion, Lord Shivarai appeared before him in his dream and extended him a hand. He asked Dehmalu to catch hold of any one of the fingers and he would grant him boon accordingly. But Dehmalu insolently caught hold of the whole palm, demanding the entire boon where upon, as the legend goes, Lord Shiva got displeased with his vain nature. He told him however, that while he would be unconquerable in an open encounter, he would die a miserable death without a chance to fight back.

Numerous palaces, capital gateways, ramparts, pillars and temples were erected in Dimapur area during his period and later on. Few monuments were visible because of raiding over the Dimasa kingdom by the Ahom rulers in 1536 AD. The decorative art of architectural, geometric and floral ornamentation found in the relics and remains is simply marvelous. Even it was found at Kachomaripathar on the bank of river Doiyang in present Golaghat district of Assam.

Sengyah Rangadao and Dehgadao were the strongest men of the Dimasa princedom. In those days, sheer physical strength and supernatural powers for fighting used to be the sole determining qualification for command of the state forces. Bodily strength used to be supreme criteria for appointment as commanders.

A challenge for a wrestling bout was put forth by those visiting wrestlers. In the wrestling bout the two strongest men of the kingdom, Rangadao and Dehgadao (who had come of age for fighting) were defeated in succession by those visiting wrestlers. The honour and glory of the Dimasa domain were thus at stake. Courtiers were gloomy, downcast and desperate, as were the Dimasa people of the capital. The king was furious as humiliation of himself and his nation seemed inevitable.

At this juncture, Sengyah Dehmalu, who saw everything take place, jumped into the arena and took up the gauntlet. With his spirit burning within to uphold the glory of the Dimapur kingdom and inflamed with rage at having had to suffer national disgrace in the hands of commoners from outside, he defeated the two visiting wrestlers one by one amidst loud burst of applause, desperate to reinstate national honour. The Hercules of the Dimasa nation had thus rescued the prestige and dignity of the Dimapur capital and kingdom. He was consequently acknowledge to be the strongest man of the nation and later on the command of the state forces was entrusted to him by the ruler.

Those vanquished wrestlers were said to be from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and were said to be Sadhus on their pilgrimage of Parshuram Kund which was situated on the North Eastern recess of an inaccessible hilly region of Arunachal Pradesh. They were pleased with the feat of Sengyah Dehmalu and taught him the secret of some “yoga cult” that enhanced the power of endurance, a teaching that Sengyah Dehmalu followed faithfully. The stalwart with accumulated force gathered by virtue of his sobriety and yoga practice could not remain a soulmate in the capital. He became restless to find out ways and means for an outlet of his power and ability.

He came into wedlock with a young girl named Khaihamdi Bodosa from a fatherside clan. His two sons named Deham Kemprai and Maiham Kemprai died while they were seven and four years of age respectively under the pressure of severe punishment by the king.

No less did King Makardhwaj, who wished his rule to be hailed by the other potentates, inspired him. He sent word to all neighbouring rulers and chieftains that they were to choose between two things, either to acknowledge suzerainty of the Dimasa ruler by sending annual tribute or to be overrun by forces of Sengyah Dehmalu.

Most of these principalities, then existing outside Dimasa territory, choose the former than being a conquest of Sengyah Dehmalu. Most of them had heard about the Hercules of the Dimasa kingdom whose magnified sigma role spread far and wide, and therefore acknowledged the Dimapur monarch with offer of tribute.

King Makardhwaj Thaosen directed Sengyah Dehmalu to lead his campaign towards the east, as most of the rulers North and South Of Dimasa domain had already offered submission.

Arrangements were set and ten thousand men were martialed for the expedition, many of them volunteering to share the glory of the conquest with him. A large number of elephants were procured to surmount the hilly tract and to carry armoury through the difficult terrain.

Their first thrust was to Manipur through the Naga Hills. Awed by the mighty strength of Sengyah Dehmalu, Naga chieftains along the route avowed their allegiance to the Dimapur Monarch. The ruler of Manipur set up a strong resistance, but they were no match for the formidable conqueror. The Manipur prince, therefore, had to seek a truce. In order to commemorate his victory, Sengyah Dehmalu was said to have bound them with oaths and terms that:

i) No Manipuri would thenceforth construct their dwellings with frontals not wider than twelve cubits.

ii) No betel nuts should be grown in Manipuri soil proper, overcame by the mighty Dehmalu. The Manipuris were forced to accede to the terms with a solemn avowal that took place in the year 1250 A.D. is admitted in the annals of Manipur, where it was featured, that the Mayang came from the present Nagaon region to conquer their land. This conquest of Manipur by Mayang which means “outsider” was the conquest of Manipur by Sengyah Demalu.

Sengyah Dehmalu marched on with his forces down to Burma from Manipur. Although a vigorous fight was said to have been given by the Burmese with superior number of fighting men, they were defeated by the tactical feat of Dehmalu.

Legend stills holds that Sengyah Dehmalu had his arms and shield, the armour of cloth provided by his two devoted which was magical proof against spear, swords and bullets surely that so called shield of Dehmalu was the wearing apparel indigenously made with thick strong padded cotton and stitched profusely crisscrossed over it. Instead of coast of mail, he would prefer that sort of tunic which gave him better advantage over his heavily laden opponents, for it rendered him facility of swift lift and lightening dash. Legend holds that Dehmalu could leap forward a great distance of 18 feet and vaulted a great height of 18 feet and likewise could also leap backward the same distance and thus could strike with equal swiftness.

He had the light shield of Rhino hide and his special tunic together with his dexterity in dealing with his sword and spear might have given him tactical advantage of dashing and striking before whom, it was said all felt like those strickenby the lightning.

The king of Burma had to make peace with him whose people took Sengyah Dehmalu as one of the phantom since no other could ever penetrate into their country so triumphantly. They submitted to his terms of truce in solemn obeisance and with a view to leave behind an everlasting glory of his conquest, Sengyah Dehmalu bound them down with the following terms:

1) That thenceforth the Burmese male should use no loin ties in their wear literally. They should put on Lungi as male cloth.

2) That their females should prim and tress their locks of hair on the top of their erest.

3) That they should fix bamboo poles upside down.

Sengyah Dehmalu was willing to proceed further up to Thailand but his aim had been cut short on potent danger. He was recalled by the Dimapur ruler due to fresh immigrants from the Shan group of tribes had been hovering over the northeast border who were able to land over the Patkai Hills in the 13th century.

Apprehensive of the future danger, King Makardhwaj had to send couriers to recall Sengyah Dehmalu at home. The ruler of Burma was said to have presented Sengyah Dehmalu with a white elephant and a dazzling diamond as a token of his appreciation of Dehmalu's merit. This elephant was led down to Dimapur, the Hirimba capital. The courtiers wished him to present the elephant to the ruler. But Dehmalu prized it so much that he declined to part with it because he considered it as a symbol of his hard won glory and preferred this unique souvenir to retain himself.

The two dazzling diamonds presented to Dehmalu by the king of Burma, was put on two holes in front of the capital gateway of Dimapur. It is said that it was taken away by Ahom king after their raid over to the capital complex of Dimapur of Hirimba kingdom in 1536 A.D.

King MakardhwajThaosen welcomed Dehmalu Kemprai in front of Dimapur Rjabari gate with pomp and glory by cultural performance named Bai-maijai (Bai-maijai then was performed by stone maijai) with his subjects after the triumphant victory over Burma and Manipur in 1251 A.D.

The cultural performance of Bai-maijai, which is widely known today was first performed to welcome Sengyah Dehmalu Kemprai.

This resulted into a deplorable tragedy in the History of the Dimasa rulers. The court ministers already jealous and fearful of Dehmalu's glory and prowess got themselves apprehensive and they entered into a secret conspiracy against him. They had the ruling king and ministered a vicious counsel. They convinced him that Sengyah Dehmalu had already grown vain and defiant of the paramount ruler as testified by his unyielding retention of the white elephant himself. That the ruling house may be overthrown and the powerful general might take over the kingdom.

The ruling monarch though not without a streak of jealousy was however reluctant to join with the courtiers. But the prince of the kingdom joined hand with those vicious group and aimed at doing away with that potent and ominous person. As the open confrontation was simply an impossible proposition in case of a person like Sengyah Dehmalu, they hit upon a secret plan for his murder.

One hot summer night, when the full moon was shone, lingering in the blue horizon overhead, the giant of a hero was lying asleep in an open meadow of his residential premise when a giant elephant was let loose to trample him down to death. But Dehmalu survived by turning his body so that elephant toppled down somersault by his side. That unsuccessful attempt on his life set the traitors in dismay and anxiety. However ultimately they could win over Dehmalu's jealous step-mother and learnt the secret of his death, who was also provided upon to do the job. A hot molten lead was poured in his ear and even on his whole body by the courtiers while he was sleeping by that courtiers and caused his instantaneous death.

The hero and the conqueror of the Dimasa nation thus ended his life as a victim of vicious intrigue and jealousy of the state nobles. Legends run that intuitively that he is nearing his end , subsequent of attempt at his life in the first phase, he left behind a curse upon the Dimasa people whereas treachery and jealousy drowned their thoughts for the other consideration of the national interest and exhibits narrow tendency in them, there should no longer be a hero amongst the Dimasa nation and that The Son of Hirimba or Dimasa glory would set down therein after and that the capital of Dimapur would soon be hunted by ghosts and beasts.

Sengyah Dehmalu Kemprai's death occurred on Saturday January 9, 1255 AD and within less than three hundred years, Dimapur Kingdom come to an end.

Life (Dimasa)

Demalik Kemprai was born in present day Dimapur on 11 August 1201 AD during the reign of Raja Makhardhwaj Narayan Thaosen. His father's name is Dechangdao Kemprai and mother's name is Rhibangdi Thaosen. Demalik Kemprai was married to Khaimaidi Bodosa (Bodo a Dimasa Clan) in the year 1224 AD. He had two sons Deham Kemprai (born 1225 AD) and Maiham Kemprai (1228 AD). He died in 1231 AD (Dimasa Kingdom).

Veer Dehmalu Kemprai's ashes

HIS HOLY ASHES are kept with his closest descendants among the Kemprai clan people of Cachar district since 792 years .The Kemprai clan performs rituals occassionally and seeks the blessings of Him.

The Myth and the Curses (Bodo)

Jwhwlao Dwimalu is imprinted with Bodo people's tragedy as he cursed the Bodo community after he was betrayed by his clans. He was a senior official during the reign of King Iragdao. It is said that the brave Dwimalu along with his troops had defeated the King of Burma and had brought white elephants as souvenirs of victory. It is believed that God had appeared in Dwimalu's dream. The God offered Dwimalu supernatural powers by asking him to draw a finger out of five. Out of greed, Dwimalu had grabbed all the five fingers. Consequently, Dwimalu got all the powers equipped to the five fingers but at the same time he was cursed to be betrayed by his kins. Dwimalu had become very powerful as time passed on. The colleagues of Dwimalu became jealous of his bravery and power: he could fight and defeat two elephants at the same time. So, the colleagues somehow made the king go against Dwimalu and he was put to prison. But no one could kill him because of the blessings of God. Then the officials brought Dwimalu's stepmother to meet him and they somehow managed to turn her against him. She was able to find out that Dwimalu could be killed only if they poured molten lead into his ears. In this way, the officials were able to assassinate Dwimalu. But just before his death, Dwimalu had cursed the Bodo community that they would never prosper. Hence, the Bodos also sometimes does a puja below his statue in Kharigaon so that his curse is lifted.