Khamba Thoibi Sheireng

This article is about a Classical Meitei language epic poem. For the traditional Meitei classical dance, see Khamba Thoibi Jagoi. For the general topic, see Khamba and Thoibi.
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Khamba Thoibi Sheireng
National epic of the Manipuris[3][2]
National Romantic Legend of Manipur[4]
by Hijam Anganghal
Original titleꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡ
TranslatorDr. Jodhachandra Sanasam[5]
Written1940[1][2]
Country Manipur Kingdom (historical)
 India (current)
LanguageMeitei language (officially known as Manipuri language)
Subject(s)Meitei literature (Manipuri literature)
Genre(s)Epic cycles of incarnations, Epic poetry, National epic[3][2]
Publication date1940[1][2]
Media typebook
Lines39,000[1][2] (8 volumes[6])

The Khamba Thoibi Sheireng, also spelled as the Khamba Thoibi Seireng (Meitei: ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡ, lit. 'Poem on Khamba Thoibi'[7]), is a Classical Meitei language epic poem based on the ancient love story of Khuman prince Khamba and Moirang princess Thoibi of Ancient Moirang kingdom[a] of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur).[8][9][10] It is the magnum opus of Hijam Anganghal, the "Bard of Samurou". It is regarded as the national epic of the Manipuris.[3][11][2] It is regarded as the greatest of all the epic poems in Meitei literature, with 39,000 verses, thereby being the third longest Indian epic poem, next to the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.[1][2][6]

The Khamba Thoibi Sheireng is often considered to be in a status of “mahakavya” (transl. great epic; court epic), and its author Hijam Anganghal as a “mahakavi” (transl. great poet; classical poet). For composing the epic, Anganghal was honoured by the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, with the title “Kabiratna” in 1948.[12][13][14]

The epic saga is based on the ancient classic of Khamba and Thoibi, also referred to as the "National Romantic Legend of Manipur" by Suniti Kumar Chatterjee,[15] as well as one of the 7 epic cycles of incarnations, constituting the Moirang Kangleirol of Ancient Moirang.[16][17]

Another remarkable achievement of Meitei cultural heritage, directly related to the Khamba Thoibi epic poem, is Khamba Thoibi Jagoi (Meitei: ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ ꯖꯒꯣꯢ, lit. 'Khamba Thoibi classical dance'), also known as Khamba Thoibi ballet,[18] which is a traditional Meitei ritualistic and theatrical classical dance form,[19] a part and parcel of the Lai Haraoba performances,[20] performed in honor of God Thangching (Old Manipuri for 'Thangjing'), the national deity of Ancient Moirang realm.[21][22][23] Notably, it is one of the classical cultural elements, giving inspirations to the rise of the Manipuri Raas Leela classical dance drama form.[24]

  1. ^ a b c d Datta, Amaresh (1988). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 1573. ISBN 978-81-260-1194-0. His best work, Khamba Thoibi sheireng, in 39,000 lines on the story of 'Khamba and Thoibi' was started in 1939 and the composition was completed in 1940.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Das, Sisir Kumar (2005). A History of Indian Literature: 1911-1956, struggle for freedom : triumph and tragedy. Sahitya Akademi. p. 190. ISBN 978-81-7201-798-9. His epic Singel Indu was published in 1938 which was followed by his magnum opus Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (1940), a poem of 39000 lines, considered to be the 'national' epic of the Manipuris, written in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads.
  3. ^ a b c George, K. M. (1992). Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 258. ISBN 978-81-7201-324-0. H. Anganghal Singh's Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (Poem on Khamba Thoibi, 1940) is a national epic of the Manipuris based on the story of Khamba and Thoibi of Moirang. The poet composes the whole epic in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads sung by minstrels or bards popular in Manipur.
  4. ^ Chatterji, Suniti Kumar (1951). KIRATA-JANA-KRTI THE INDO-MONGOLOIDS : THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF INDIA (April 1998 ed.). Calcutta: The Asiatic Society; Digital Library of India; Internet Archive. p. 189. The 'National Romantic Legend of Manipur' — the great love story of the hero Khamba and Princess Thoibi, which after a happy union of the two lovers ended in a tragedy, — began to be treated in Old Meithei ballads from the middle of the twelfth century. The lovers lived about 1100 A.D., during the rule of King Loyamba....
  5. ^ "Jodhachandra Sanasam Sahityabhusan 2017". e-pao.net. And he was also awarded with Dr. Kamal Kabiratna Ningsing Sel Mana 2014 by Manipuri Sahitya Parishad Imphal for his novel Leisat Tamle Nanggidamak and for his English translation of Khamba Thoibi Seireng he was honoured with Sahitya Thoupanglup's Nongthombam Kunjamohan Singh Translation Award 2017.
  6. ^ a b Delhi, All India Radio (AIR), New (31 August 1975). AKASHVANI: Vol. XL. No. 35 ( 31 AUGUST, 1975 ). All India Radio (AIR),New Delhi. p. 1582.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ George, K. M. (1992). Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 29. ISBN 978-81-7201-324-0.
  8. ^ Delhi, All India Radio (AIR), New (17 March 1968). "Some Classics of Manipur". AKASHVANI: Vol. XXXIII, No.12 ( 17 MARCH, 1968 ). India: All India Radio (AIR), New Delhi. pp. 7, 8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ KanglaOnline (4 April 2011). "The great Meitei Reconciliation Process: Revisiting the classical folklore on "Emoinu Chakhong Ngahongbi" by Late Shri Ningomabam Angouton Meetei – KanglaOnline". Retrieved 12 November 2023. ... The folklore of Emoinu Celebration from the story "Washak Ngakpa" meaning Keeping the Promise, written by Late Shri Ningombam Angouton Meetei and the classical love story "Khamba -Thoibi" are classical examples of successful reconciliation process of the old Meitei factions...
  10. ^ Bond, Ruskin (14 October 2000). "The Story of Khamba and Thoibi". The Penguin Book of Classical Indian Love Stories and Lyrics. Penguin UK. pp. 3, 4. ISBN 978-93-5118-814-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  11. ^ Datta, Amaresh (1988). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 1186. ISBN 978-81-260-1194-0.
  12. ^ "মহাকবি হিজম অঙাংহলগী পোক্লফম শামুরৌ অমদি মহাক্কী পুন্সি খোঙচৎ" (PDF). Hueiyen Lanpao (in Manipuri). India. 2016 [2016].
  13. ^ Today 24, Sylhet; শেরাম, এ কে. Written at Sylhet. "মণিপুরী ভাষার মহাকাব্য 'খম্বা-থোইবী শৈরেং'". sylhettoday24.news (in Bengali). Bangladesh. Retrieved 14 November 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "সাহিত্যগী অখন্নবা লমায় - মহাকবি হিজম অঙাংহল" (PDF). Hueiyen Lanpao (in Manipuri). India. 2014 [2014].
  15. ^ Chatterji, Suniti Kumar (1951). KIRATA-JANA-KRTI THE INDO-MONGOLOIDS : THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF INDIA (April 1998 ed.). Calcutta: The Asiatic Society; Digital Library of India; Internet Archive. p. 189. The 'National Romantic Legend of Manipur' — the great love story of the hero Khamba and Princess Thoibi, which after a happy union of the two lovers ended in a tragedy, — began to be treated in Old Meithei ballads from the middle of the twelfth century. The lovers lived about 1100 A.D., during the rule of King Loyamba....
  16. ^ Oinam, Bhagat; Sadokpam, Dhiren A. (11 May 2018). Northeast India: A Reader. Taylor & Francis. pp. 236, 237. ISBN 978-0-429-95320-0. Numerous manuscripts of the Moirang region dwell on the theme of love. One of the most popular stories refers to the seven pairs of lovers who are regarded as incarnations of the same souls in different generations or age.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  17. ^ Datta, Amaresh (1987). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 349. ISBN 978-81-260-1803-1. The epic ballad cycle of the incarnations of Moirang which is nine in number according to some and only seven according to others is a grand majestic saga of the eternal triangle in which generations after generations would find reflections of the various hopes, ideals and aspirations of each age.
  18. ^ —Banerji, Projesh (1983). Indian Ballet Dancing. India. p. 74. ISBN 978-0-391-02716-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
    —Raina, Vimala (18 January 1963). Khamba Thoibi And Poems On Manipur. Manipur Government Press; Manipur University Library; North Eastern States Libraries. India: Digital Library of India; Internet Archive. pp. ii.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
    —Banerji, Projesh (1983). Indian Ballet Dancing. India. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-391-02716-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  19. ^ —Pathway Volume 41. Vol. 41. University of Michigan; Marg Foundation (Mumbai, India), Modern Architectural Research Group, Modern Artists and Architects Research Group, National Centre for the Performing Arts (India). 1988. pp. XV. First and foremost are the surviving ritual dances which have been absorbed into the repertoire. The Lai-haraoba and the Khamba Thoibi may be counted amongst these. Their historical and mythical theme makes them as classical as any of the later Vaishnavite dances.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
    —Doshi, Saryu (1989). Dances of Manipur: The Classical Tradition. University of Michigan. Marg Publications. pp. XIX. ISBN 978-81-85026-09-1. First and foremost are the surviving ritual dances which have been absorbed into the repertoire. The Lai-haraoba and the Khamba Thoibi may be counted amongst these. Their historical and mythical theme makes them as classical as any of the later Vaishnavite dances. They have an element of abhinaya (histrionic representation)...
    —DM Silveira's India Book. University of Michigan. Classic Publishers. 1994. p. 230. ISBN 978-81-900218-2-1. ...Lai Haraoba is the ritual folk-cum-classical dance of Manipur and tells the story of creation according to the Manipuris. Khamba Thoibi is a popular Manipuri dance which tells the story of princess Thoibi and poor boy Khamba...{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
    —Mãrg. Vol. 41. Pennsylvania State University; National Centre for the Performing Arts (India). p. 109. First and foremost are the surviving ritual dances which have been absorbed into the repertoire. The Lai-haraoba and the Khamba Thoibi may be counted amongst these. Their historical and mythical theme makes them as classical as any of the later Vaishnavite dances. They have an element of abhinaya histrionic representation)...{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
    —Khuraijam, Bobo (13 March 2011). "Three Cheers – KanglaOnline". Retrieved 13 November 2023. ... Would it not be like asking for a Hip-Hop dance from a classical Khamba-Thoibi jagoi performance if we expect street aggression from our teachers? ...
  20. ^ Banerji, Projesh (1983). Indian Ballet Dancing. India. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-391-02716-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  21. ^ "Everything Experiential | Khamba Thoibi Dance". Everything Experiential. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  22. ^ "Khamba Thaibi Dance". Indian Classical Folk & Tribal Dance. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  23. ^ "khamba Thoibi Folk Dance of Manipur". www.indianfolkdances.com. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  24. ^ Dances Of India. Har-Anand Publications Pvt. Limited. 2010. p. 19. ISBN 978-81-241-1337-0. ...The Rasa Lila dances of Shiva and Parvati, Radha and Krishna, and the local deities Khamba and Thoibi form the foundation of the Manipuri dance...


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