Gharib Niwaz (Manipur)

Pamheiba
Gharib Niwaz
Meidingu, Ningthou & Maharaja of Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur kingdom')
King of Manipur
Reign1709–13 December 1751
Coronation1720
PredecessorPitambar Charairongba[1]
SuccessorGaurisiam
BornPamheiba[1]
23 December 1690
Died13 December 1751 (aged 60)
Names
Meidingu Pamheiba
HouseNingthouja dynasty
FatherPitambar Charairongba[1]
MotherNungthilchaibi
ReligionHinduism
Kingdom of Manipur
Part of History of Manipur
Kings of Manipur
Loiyumba 1074–1112
Senbi Kiyamba 1467–1508
Koirengba 1508–1512
Khagemba 1597–1652
Pitambar Charairongba 1697–1709
Pamheiba 1720–1751
Gaurisiam 1752–1754
Chitsai 1754–1756
Ching-Thang Khomba 1769–1798
Rohinchandra 1798–1801
Maduchandra Singh 1801–1806
Chourjit Singh 1806–1812
Marjit Singh 1812–1819
Gambhir Singh 1825–1834
Nara Singh 1844–1850
Debindro Singh 1850–1850
Chandrakirti Singh 1850–1886
Surachandra Singh 1886–1890
Kulachandra Singh 1890–1891
Churachandra Singh 1891–1941
Bodhchandra Singh 1941–1949
Manipur monarchy data
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Meitei people
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Culture
People
Religion
Politics

Gharib Niwaz (born Pamheiba, 1690–1751, Meitei: /pāmheiba/,[2] Sanskrit: Gopal Singh[3]) was the ruler of the Manipur Kingdom,[4] ruling from c. 1709 until his death in 1751. He introduced Hinduism as the state religion of his kingdom (1717)[1][5] and changed the name of the kingdom from "Kangleipaak" to the Sanskrit Manipur (1724). He changed his royal name from his birth name Pamheipa to the Persianate "Gharib Niwaz".[1][6][7] During most of his reign he was engaged in warfare against the weakened Burmese Toungoo Dynasty.[8]

In the early years of his rule (1710–1717 CE), Garib Niwaz focused on consolidating his empire and engaging in military expeditions, including a notable victory in 1714 when his forces, disguised as a marriage party, defeated Burmese troops at the confluence of Chindwin and Ru Rivers.[9] As conflicts with the expanding Burmese empire intensified, Garib Niwaz achieved significant military triumphs, such as defeating Burmese forces at Shan villages and successfully defending against Burmese and Tripuri attacks in 1723.

Garib Niwaz's military endeavors went beyond defense, with offensive campaigns against Tripuris in 1727 and 1733, and multiple invasions into Burma from 1724 to 1741. The conquest of Saigang city on the Irrawaddy in 1738 highlighted his military prowess. His legacy, marked by tales of triumph over Burmese forces, showcases Garib Niwaz's strategic brilliance and the enduring impact of his military successes. Under his rule, the Manipuri empire reached unprecedented heights, solidifying its dominance in South-East Asia and leaving an indelible mark on the region's history. According to historian Gangmumei, during the reign of Garib Niwaz, the Manipuri empire achieved the peak of its power and consolidation in the contemporary South-East Asian region.[10]

  1. ^ a b c d e Sen, Sipra (1992). Tribes and Castes of Manipur: Description and Select Bibliography. Mittal Publications. pp. 13, 28, 69, 250. ISBN 978-81-7099-310-0.
  2. ^ Anthropological Linguistics. Department of Anthropology, Indiana University. 2005. p. 207. Garibniwaz Meithei name : Pamheiba Hindu name : Gopal Singh Reign name : Mayamba ('the elder brother')
  3. ^ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization. Mittal Publications. p. 44. ISBN 978-81-7099-853-2.
  4. ^ —Subba, Tanka Bahadur; Som, Sujit (2005). Between Ethnography and Fiction: Verrier Elwin and the Tribal Question in India. Oxford University Press. Orient Blackswan. p. 233. ISBN 978-81-250-2812-3. The Meitei king Pamheiba had a special department for the hill people. ...
    —Kamei, Samson (2022). The Resilience of Indigenous Religion: A Struggle for Survival of Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak in Manipur. Taylor & Francis. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-000-82888-7.
    —Singh, A. Prafullokumar (2009). Elections and political dynamics. Mittal Publications. p. 8. ISBN 978-81-8324-279-0. Meitei king Pamheiba (also known as Garib Niwaz) maintained the most cordial hill plain relations.
  5. ^ Coleman, Daniel; Glanville, Erin Goheen; Hasan, Wafaa; Kramer-Hamstra, Agnes (2012). Countering Displacements: The Creativity and Resilience of Indigenous and Refugee-ed Peoples. University of Alberta. p. 130. ISBN 978-0-88864-607-1.
  6. ^ Tamang, Jyoti Prakash (2020). Ethnic Fermented Foods and Beverages of India: Science History and Culture. Springer Nature. p. 355. ISBN 978-981-15-1486-9. After the advent of Hinduism some 300 years ago during the reign of King Pamheiba (latter known as King Garib Niwaz after adopting Hinduism in 1717 AD)...
  7. ^ Roy, Jyotirmoy (1973). History of Manipur. University of Michigan. Eastlight Book House. p. 35. there can be little doubt that the word Gharib Niwaz used by Pamheiba belongs to the Persian vocabulary.
  8. ^ Thangal General, Charai Thangal And Pamheiba Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine Manipur Online – 13 May 2003
  9. ^ Manipur's imperial moment: When King Gharib Nawaz spread Hinduism, conquered Burma
  10. ^ Gangmumei Kabui. History of Manipur. p. 238