Khamba and Thoibi

This article is about classical Meitei lore. For the traditional Meitei classical dance, see Khamba Thoibi Jagoi. For the Classical Meitei language epic poem, see Khamba Thoibi Sheireng.
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Khamba and Thoibi, Manipur
The capture the wild bull
Folk tale
NameKhamba and Thoibi, Manipur
Also known asKhampa Thoipi (Ancient Meitei Language)
Aarne–Thompson groupingno
MythologyMeitei mythology
CountryIndia
RegionManipur
Origin Date11th-12th century CE
Published inKhamba Thoibi Sheireng and many others
RelatedMeitei folklore (Manipuri folklore),
Meitei literature (Manipuri literature)

The ancient legend of Khamba and Thoibi (Meitei: Khamba Thoibi) is a classic,[1] as well as one of the epic cycles of incarnations of Meitei mythology and folklore, that is originated from Ancient Moirang kingdom[a] of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur).[2] It is referred to as the "national romantic legend of Manipur" by Indian scholar Suniti Kumar Chatterjee.[3]

Among the countless retelling editions of the epic story, is Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (Meitei: ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡ) an eight-volume, 39,000-line epic poem composed by Hijam Angangha and published in 1940. It was written in Pena Saisak folk ballad style and has been called the national epic of Manipur.[4][5][6][7]

The classic tale of Khamba and Thoibi became an Assamese classic as well, after being translated into Assamese language as Khamba Thoibir Sadhukatha, by Assamese author and anthropologist Rajanikanta Bordoloi (1869-1939).[8][9][10]

  1. ^ —"Some Classics of Manipur". Akashvani: Vol. XXXIII, No. 12 (17 March 1968). India: All India Radio (AIR), New Delhi. 17 March 1968. pp. 7, 8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
    —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...
    —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)
    —Dalby, Andrew (28 October 2015). Dictionary of Languages: The definitive reference to more than 400 languages. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 399. ISBN 978-1-4081-0214-5.
  2. ^ Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature. Original from:the University of Michigan. India: Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ George, K. M. (1992). Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 258. ISBN 978-81-7201-324-0.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Datta, Amaresh (1988). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 1573. ISBN 978-81-260-1194-0.
  7. ^ Akashvani: Vol. XL. No. 35 (31 August 1975). All India Radio (AIR), New Delhi. 1975. p. 1582.
  8. ^ Dalby, Andrew (28 October 2015). Dictionary of Languages: The definitive reference to more than 400 languages. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 399. ISBN 978-1-4081-0214-5.
  9. ^ Bardoloi Nirmalprabhya (1995). Rajani Kanta Bardoloi. Internet Archive; Digital Library of India. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 14. His tale of Khamba and Thoibi entitled Khamba-Thoibir sadhukatha, a love story of a Manipuri youth named Khamba and a Manipuri maiden named Thoibi, appeared in 1932.
  10. ^ Bardoloi Nirmalprabhya (1995). Rajani Kanta Bardoloi. Internet Archive; Digital Library of India. India: Sahitya Akademi. pp. 32, 33, 34. Bardoloi's novel Khamba-Thoibir Sadhukatha (The tale of Khamba and Thoibi) is an adaptation of a Manipuri legend entitled 'Khamba-Thoibi-Givari'.


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