Manipur- Thangal General Belongs To Thangal Tribe

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Thangal General Belongs To Thangal Tribe
By Khangba Ankh
Thangal General was born at Thangal Surung village of Senapati district. He was born of the Khullakpa Sagei of Thangal Surung village. He was the eldest son of the younger brother of the Khullakpa of Thangal Surung. His father's name was Saraingamba and mother's name was Angkhala. His original name was Lungthoubu. He had one sister named Saranga and one younger brother named Raio. Lungthoubu Thangal General was the real son and blood of the Thangal. According to the ancient chronicle he was born in 1814 and at the age of 16 he was taken to Manipur Sana Konung in 1830 by the then Jubaraj. Lungthoubu Thangal better known as Thangal Menjor and later known as Thangal General was a legendary hero of Thangal tribe. From his childhood he had a peculiar character and appearance and had extra-ordinary strength. He was hold, active, intelligent and fond of playing and hunting. His courage and bravery attracted the eyes of the elders and he was admired by all the villagers. During the reign of Gambhir Singh Maharaja, the Jubraj came to catch wild elephant from Samukom near Ekou. Gambhir Singh Maharaja asked the Khullakpa of Thangal Surung to arrange for a guide for the Jubaraj and his men. Accordingly, the Khullakpa of Thangal Surung sent his brother's son Lungthoubu as the guide of the said party. The Jubaraj and his men came up to Thangal Surung village for the worship of Mabhudhou Pakhangba. Lungthoubou served the Jubaraj and his men in the village and the excellent services of Lungthoubu was so admired by the Jubaraj. Lungthoubou guided the Jubaraj and his men in the mission of catching wild elephant. In this mission Lungthoubu alone caught one she-elephant with a calf. The clever act, courage and strength of Lungthoubu of this extra daring enterprise were so amazing to the whole party and were so much admired by the Jubaraj. Taking into account of the happening and considering the far sighted bright future of Lungthoubu, the Jubaraj wanted to take him to Sana Konung for his services. The Jubaraj pleaded the Khullakpa and parent of Lungthoubu and obtained permission to take Lungthoubou from Thangal Surung village to Manipur Sana Konung. Thus Lungthoubu Thangal was taken to Sana Konung and adopted in the house of one Khetrimayum. He was later taken into Manipuri community and given Kangabam clan and thus came to be known as Kangabam Laiphamlatpa and Thangal Menjor. Lungthoubu Thangal was brought from Thangal Surung and so his name was known as Thangal in short. By virtue of his long, about sixty years services in the Manipur Sana Konung, Thangal thus remained in the Meitei community. But he was never known as Meitei. So his origin should not be confused and misinterpreted. The real fact and truth of the origin of Thangal General can be known from his original place - Thangal Surung and Thangal people. Secondly, his origin can also be known from the Puran Pujas and Pandits. Puran Pujas and Pandits are the available principles sources of the ancient history of Manipur since there are no other written records of those days. Thirdly, it can be known from the history of the ancient writers and anthropologist. It is written in the 'Meiteis Puran' like this: Shri Jut Gambhir Singh sana hakthakta Makeng Thangal gi Khullakpagi manaogi machanupa amabu Sana Konungda puraktuna Ningthouja Salaida loukhatkhie, magi yumnakti Kangabam oikhie, Kangabam Thangal Menjor mayumne... It is also written in the 'Mahou Mihouron Puja' like this, "Thangal Menjor haiba nipa asi Makeng Thangal khun asidagi hourakpane... Mahak Thangarabagi masu macha singne... Magi maming, mapa mamagi maming machin manaogi maming loina takli... It is written by Jyotirmoy Roy in his book "History of Manipur" and Makundalal Chowdhury's "Manipur Itihash" like this - "It is said that Thangal General was a Naga by birth and afterwards by virtue of his long services he was taken into the Manipur community"... In the book of RR Shimray 'Origin and Culture of Nagas' it is also mentioned that Thangal General was from Thangal Surung village and his name was Lungthoubou (Lungthoubu)... It is also mentioned in the books of Capt... RS Pemberton and Lt. Col Mc Colluch that Thangal General is a Naga by birth. We can also get some guiding principles from the books of Sir James Johnstone and Mrs. Grimwood. Thangal General and his origin were very clearly mentioned in the Khongjom Parva too. Over and above all these there are legends, songs, examples etc in his birth place, Thangal Surung and Thangal people. It is mentioned in 'Cheitharol Kumbaba: On the 14th day of Poinu, Monday, Saka 1752 (English 1831) Raja Gambhir Singh (Chinglen Nongdren Khomba) went to catch elephants in Ekou catchment area. On the 3rd day of Wakching (Monday) Raja's team returned to the capital along with 34 elephant catches (Cheitharol Kumbaba, 1989, p-230). During the reign of Raja Chandrakirti, on the 27th day of Wakching (Tuesday), Awang Hao Pham Kaye, (p-260). In the subsequent pages of the Chronicles we find mention about Thangal here and there as Thangal Hajari and Thangal Major... On the 28th day of Poinu month (Wednesday) 1795 Saka Thangal Major along with R Brown reached Mayangkhang and there Brown asked Thangal Major about the meaning of 'Mayangkhang'. Major replied that the people of this village cultivated a species of paddy called 'Mayangkhang'. Hence the name of the village was called Mayangkhang (p-415) and Mayangkhang is a village of Thangal tribe. In the death certificate issued by A Colown, Surgeon, Senior Medical Officer, Manipur it is mentioned like this: Certified that Tongal alias Tongal General of Manipur, was this thirteenth day of August, 1891 hanged at Manipur in my presence and I examined the body after hanging for the space of one hour and found life to be extinct. (Cheitharol Kumbaba, p-501). Thus Thangal General was known as Awang Hao, Thangal Hajari, Thangal Major or Menjor and later known as Thangal General. The General title was given by the political Agent Sir James Johnstone in 1885 as promoted by the Maharaj Chandrakirti Singh. He was the most experienced and capable administrator in the days of Maharajas who ruled for a long period of about 60 years from the reign of Gambhir Singh Maharaj to the reign of Kulachandra Maharaj. The longest and most exciting period was during the reign of Chandrakirti Singh Maharaj who ruled 35 years from 1851 to 1886. It was mainly because of Thangal for the first time in Manipur an English school was established in 1885 by Maj Gen Sir James Johnstone, KCSI in the latter’s name known as Johnstone English School. And as such Thangal General and Balaram Singh who had played most important role in the establishment of education in Manipur can be honored and given the name of founder and pioneer of education in Manipur. Thangal General was also found of building bridges and constructing roads. He and Lt. Raban RE during the reign of Chandrakirti Maharaj had constructed for the first time the road from Imphal to Mao in 1880. He was a remarkable character in the history of Manipur. He was strong and able man capable of any situation acquainted with every branch and part of Manipur. He was credited more than any man in the kingdom and few things happened without his knowledge and consent. For his services of merit and efficiency Thangal General was also rewarded the title 'Tangballoi' which was the highest title and honor of the land that time in Manipur. The British author Major General Sir James Johnstone KCSI, described Thangal General as under: Thangal Major was a remarkable character, and had a chequered history. His uncle had saved the life of Rajah Ghambir Singh (Chandrakriti Singh's father), then a child, when his older brother Marjeet attempted the murder of all his relatives. Thangal Major was one of the props of the throne when Ghambir Singh ascended it. He had been introduced at court at an early age, and accompanied the Rajah in an expedition against the village of Thangal inhabited by a tribe of the Nagas. He was given the name Thangal in memory of the event. He accompanied the old Ranee with her infant son Chandrakriti Singh into exile, when she fled after attempting the Regent Nursing's life while he was engaged in worship in the Temple of Govindajee in 1844, had stayed with him and carefully watched over his childhood and youth. When in 1850 the young Rajah came to Manipur to assert his rights, Thangal accompanied him and greatly contributed to his successes. This naturally made him a favorite, and his hold, active, energetic character always brought him to the front when hard or dangerous work had to be done. For a time he fell into disfavor, but Colonel Mc Culloch, recognizing his strong and useful qualities, and the fact that he was an exceedingly able man, interceded for him with the Maharajah, and he again came to the front. In person he was short and thickset, darker than the average of Manipuris, with piercing eyes and rather a prominent nose, a pleasant and straight forward but absurd manner, and though a very devoted and patriotic Manipuri, was extremely partial to Europeans. He knew our ways well and soon took a man's measure. He was acquainted with every part of Manipur and though ignorant of English, could point out any village in the State, on an English map. In fact, he had studied geography in every branch to enable him to defend the cause of Manipur against the survey officers who were suspected by the Manipuris of wishing to include all they could within British territory. He knew all our technical terms such as 'watershed' in English and had gained much credit for enabling the survey to carry on their work in 1872, when the patriotic but ill-judged zeal of an older officer, Rooma Singh, nearly brought about a rupture. Thangal Major's knowledge of us and our customs, as well as our moral code, was astonishing. He realized the power of the British Govt, and though he would resist us to the utmost in the interests of Manipur, nothing would have induced him to join in any plot against our rule in India. When I say that he was unscrupulous and capable of anything, I only say that he was what circumstances and education had made him, and would make any man under similar conditions. He had not the polish of a native of Western India, and had not had the advantage of English training that many Ministers in other States have. The internal administration of Manipur had never been interfered with by us, and Thangal Major was the strong able man of the old type. A strong and capable political agent might do well with him, but a weak one would soon go to the wall. He commanded the Toolee Nehah, and was often called by that title, but was better known as Thangal Major. One of my predecessors had quarreled with Thangal Major, and this had led to recrimination and very unseemly conduct on the part of the Durbar. This conduct I had rebuked as directed, but it was a question as to how Thangal Major was to be dealt with. I was authorized to demand his dismissal from office, and for some time he had not been received by my two immediate predecessor. I made careful inquiries, and feeling convinced that there was a good deal to be said on Thangal's side, and that by careful management I should be able to keep him well in hand, I sent for him. The old man, he was then sixty, having been born in 1817, came in a quite unostentatious way, and after a severe rebuke, and receiving an ample apology from him, I forgive him, and restored him to the position of Minister in attendance upon me and thenceforth I saw him daily, generally for an hour or two. (Manipur and the Naga Hills, p-74, 75, 76.) One day the two Ministers Thangal Major and Bularam Singh came to see me accompanied by old Rooma Singh Major. They looked rather uneasy and I suspected something was coming out. Presently Thangal rose and saluted me and said. 'The Maharajah has promoted us to be Generals'. I received the intelligence without any enthusiasm; feeling assured that the act had been dictated by a desire to give them a more high-sounding title than my military one, I being then only a Lieut. Colonel. It was in fact a piece of self-assertion. Any one understanding Asiatic will know what I mean, and that I knew instinctively it was a move in the game against me which I ought to check. I coldly replied that of course the Maharajah would please himself; but that I loved old things, old names and old faces and that I had so many pleasant associations with the old titles that I could not bring myself to use the new ones, and should continue to call them by the dear old name of Major. I then shook hands with them most cordially and said good-bye, and they left rather crestfallen, where they had hoped and intended to be triumphant. I may as well tell the remainder of the story. Time after time was I begged to address my three friends as 'General', but I was inexorable and the titles almost fell into disuse among the Manipuris who had at first adopted them. Old Thangal once had a long talk about it, and I said plainly. 'I give nothing for nothing; some day when you do something I shall address you as General'. Years passed, I went on leave, and my locum tenens too good-naturally gave in, and addressed them as General, and even induced the Chief Commissioner of the day to do likewise. When he wrote to me and told me of it. I was naturally not very pleased and mentioned it to an old Indian friend, who said, 'Well, you will have to do the same now that the Chief Commissioner has.' However, I was not going to swerve from my word. I returned to Manipur and one of the Ministers met me on the boundary river. I again greeted him as 'Major Sahib', and immediately the new titles again began to fall into disuse. I told the Chief Commissioner my views when I next met him and he approved, as I said I could not alter my word. Some time after this I again renewed efforts that I had long been making for the establishment of an English School in Manipur. The Durbar naturally object; wisely from their point of view, they knew as well as I did that the fact of their subjects learning English would eventually means a better administration of justice, and a gradual sweeping away of abuses. I felt, however, that the time has come, and I urged the question with great force, and one day said to the Minister. 'You have long wanted to be addressed as 'General', and I told you that when you did something worthy of it I should do so. Now the day that the Maharajah gives his consent to an English School being established, I shall address you as General'. A few days afterward the Maharajah's consent was brought. I immediately stood up and shook hands most warmly with them, saying, 'I thank you cordially, Generals'. From that day the question was finally set at rest, after years of longing on the part of the old fellows. We had always understood each other, and they felt and respected the part I had taken, and I believe, valued their titles all the more from my not having given in at once. (Manipur and Naga Hills p -142 to 144). Thangal General was not the only hero of the tribe. There was also another hero, Charai Thangal who sacrificed his life for the motherland along with Tikendrajit and Thangal General on 13th August, 1891. He was born at Mayangkhang Thangal Village. He was from Thangal Tribe, which is why he was also called Charai Thangal. Characid Thangal Charai Thangal is the son of the Khaba Thangal. His mother was Theibui. He was younger than Thangal General and related to him. Charai Thangal was the commander-in-charge of the northern fort at Mayangkhang. He and his men fought the battle against the British forces in 1891. He was a brave and strong commander. In the battle, on 24th March 1891, he captured two British Officers namely Melvile, superintendent of Telegraph and O.O. Brien Signaller and killed them. For the murder of these two British Officers and waging war against the British, Charai Thangal was forced to surrender to British at the end of the war and he was also hanged on 13th August 1891. All the Headmen and elders of Thangal Villages were invited in the ceremony of the hanging of Thangal General and Charai Thangal on the gallows on 13th August, 1891. Some of the Thangal elders and relatives were present on this day and performed last ritual according to Thangal custom. The British anger and wrath on Thangal tribe continue for nine years even after the hanging of Thangal General and Charai Thangal. As a result the Mayangkhang village was burnt to ashes three times by the British soldiers upto the end of nine years. (This article was written to negate the story on General Thangal that is published in "Manipuri Londam Lairik" for class V)
Courtesy: The Sangai Express

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