Kumcha Lempi (Meitei: ꯀꯨꯝꯆꯥ ꯂꯦꯝꯄꯤ, romanized: /koom-chaa lem-pee/), also known as Kumja Lembi (Meitei: ꯀꯨꯝꯖꯥ ꯂꯦꯝꯕꯤ, romanized: /koom-jaa lem-bee/), is a woman in Meitei mythology and folklore of ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). She is known for being a victim of an attack by a tiger in Khoirentak. Her tragedy is frequently mentioned, narrated and retold in the Moirang Kangleirol legends, usually by the Pena (musical instrument) playing balladeers till present times.[1][2]
| Kumcha Lempi (/koom-chaa lem-pee/) | |
|---|---|
a victim of the Khoirentak tiger's attack | |
| Member of Characters in the Moirang Kangleirol | |
| Other names | Kumja Lembi (/koom-jaa lem-bee/) |
| Meitei | (Meitei: ꯀꯨꯝꯆꯥ ꯂꯦꯝꯄꯤ) |
| Affiliation | Meitei mythology and Meitei folklore |
| Major cult center | Moirang |
| Adherents | Meitei people |
| Gender | female |
| Region | Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur) |
| Ethnic group | Meitei people |
Etymology
editIn Meitei language, "Kumcha" (Meitei: ꯀꯨꯝꯆꯥ, romanized: /koom-chaa/)[a] or "Kumja" (Meitei: ꯀꯨꯝꯖꯥ, romanized: /koom-jaa/)[a] means "year"[3] or "yearly" or "annual" or "seasonal", and "Lempi" (Meitei: ꯂꯦꯝꯄꯤ, romanized: /lem-pee/)[b] or "Lembi" (Meitei: ꯂꯦꯝꯕꯤ, romanized: /lem-bee/)[b] means "graceful" or "gentle" or "elegant".[1][2][4]
Background
editKumcha Lempi (Meitei: ꯀꯨꯝꯆꯥ ꯂꯦꯝꯄꯤ, romanized: /koom-chaa lem-pee/) was very small when her mother died. After some time, her father remarried. Her stepmother was very cruel and rude to her, especially in her father's absence. Kumcha Lempi suffered the atrocities and bitter treatments from her evil stepmother in her life.[1][2][5][6][7]
Tragedy
editOnce the king of ancient Moirang announced that no one should go out of their respective houses when the sun set off, because a wild tiger from Khoirentak was roaming around freely, among the reeds of the shores of the Loktak lake (Meitei: ꯂꯣꯛꯇꯥꯛ ꯄꯥꯠ, romanized: /lok-taak paat/). Upon hearing such news, Kumcha Lempi's stepmother, who was searching for every possible opportunity to get rid of her poor stepdaughter, intentionally and forcibly sent Kumcha Lempi, in the evening time, to the shore of the Loktak lake, telling her to collect basketful herbs ("yellang keng-ngoi") for that very day's dinner, and not to come back to home if she didn't bring what is said to her to be brought. While collecting herbs to be basketful, it was getting late. On her way, she was spotted by the so called Khoirentak tiger and ended up being devoured by the hungry beast.[1][8][6][7] When the remains of her corpse was discovered by the royal officials, the news reached the ears of the King of Moirang, who ordered Khuman Khamba (Meitei: ꯈꯨꯃꯟ ꯈꯝꯕ) and Nongban (Meitei: ꯅꯣꯡꯕꯥꯟ), to capture the lurking beast, as a divine ordeal of the two men's conflict of getting hand in marriage to Thoibi (Meitei: ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ), the only princess of the kingdom.[8][9]
In Meitei literature
editIn Meitei literature (Manipuri literature), lady Kumcha Lempi (Kumja Lembi) is described as a friend of a girl of Kabui ethnicity of the hills of Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur'). Her Kabui friend later turned into a flower named "Chingthrao" (Meitei: ꯆꯤꯡꯊ꯭ꯔꯥꯎ) blessed by God Thangching (Thangjing). Kumja Lembi immortalized her friend's name as "Ching-thrao", which is made of the words, ‘Ching’ (Meitei for '‘Hills’'), ‘Tharo’ (Meitei for '‘Lily’') and ‘Paitha’ (Meitei for '‘Flying Downward’').[10]
In popular culture
edit- In the session of 2018-19, the Chingu Thangjing Women's Cultural Organization produced a Shumang Kumhei (Meitei for 'Courtyard Theatre') named "Kumjalembi", for which the "Grants Committee to the Cultural Institutions of North-East States" recommended to The National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama (English for 'Sangeet Natak Akademi') for a grant of ₹40,000 (equivalent to ₹54,000 or US$630 in 2023).[11]
See also
editBibliography
edit- Singh, Wahengbam Ibohal. The History Of Manipur.
- SINGH, SURESH (1986). THE PRINCE AND THE ROSE. LAKSHMIPRIYA DEVI, IMPHAL.
Notes
edit- ^ a b In Meitei language (officially called Manipuri), the sounds of "ch" and "j" are in free variations.
- ^ a b In Meitei language (officially called Manipuri), the sounds of "pi" (/pee/) and "bi" (/bee/) are in free variations.
References
edit- ^ a b c d Akoijam, I.S. (2004). Manipurgee Chingmee Tamee (in Manipuri). Manipur University Library, Imphal. India: Manipur Sahitya Samiti, Thoubal, Manipur; Digital Library of India. pp. 32–34.
- ^ a b c Singh, Tomcha Wahengbam (2014). "Ahaanba Pandup (Ahaanba Utpa - Kumcha Lempi)". Kunjamala (in Manipuri). Manipur University Library, Imphal. India: Sanasam Ingotombi Singh, Imphal; Digital Library of India. pp. 6–12.
- ^ Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary ("Kumja")". dsal.uchicago.edu (in Manipuri and English). University of Chicago. p. 41. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
- ^ Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary ("Lembi")". dsal.uchicago.edu (in Manipuri and English). University of Chicago. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
- ^ Singh, Tomcha Wahengbam (2014). "Ahaanba Pandup (Anishuba Utpa - Kumcha Lempi)". Kunjamala (in Manipuri). Manipur University Library, Imphal. India: Sanasam Ingotombi Singh, Imphal; Digital Library of India. pp. 13–18.
- ^ a b Singh, Kokngang (1970). Anouba Yenning (in Manipuri). Manipur University Library, Imphal. India: Ibemcha Home Library, Kongpal, Imphal; Digital Library of India. pp. 6–12.
- ^ a b Singh, Kokngang (2008). Apunba Saklon (in Manipuri). Manipur University Library, Imphal. India: Kongbantabam Bidyalaxmi Devi; Digital Library of India. pp. 6–12.
- ^ a b Singh, Tomcha Wahengbam (2014). "Ahumshuba Pandup (Kumcha Lempi)". Kunjamala (in Manipuri). Manipur University Library, Imphal. India: Sanasam Ingotombi Singh, Imphal; Digital Library of India. pp. 118–129.
- ^ Hodson, T. C. (1908). The Meitheis. Duke University Libraries. London: D. Nutt. p. 151.
- ^ Anita, Aheibam (2021-03-06). "The Enchanting Folk Tale of a Lonely and Forlorn Kabui Village Girl Who Became the Beautiful Wild Blossom Chingthrao » Imphal Review of Arts and Politics". imphalreviews.in. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
- ^ "2018-19 SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI ANNUAL REPORT" (PDF). Sangeet Natak Akademi. p. 121.
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