Kumcha Lempi

Kumcha Lempi
(/koom-chaa lem-pee/)
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

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]

Etymology

In Meitei language, "Kumcha" (Meitei: ꯀꯨꯝꯆꯥ, romanized: /koom-chaa/)[lower-alpha 1] or "Kumja" (Meitei: ꯀꯨꯝꯖꯥ, romanized: /koom-jaa/)[lower-alpha 1] means "year"[3] or "yearly" or "annual" or "seasonal", and "Lempi" (Meitei: ꯂꯦꯝꯄꯤ, romanized: /lem-pee/)[lower-alpha 2] or "Lembi" (Meitei: ꯂꯦꯝꯕꯤ, romanized: /lem-bee/)[lower-alpha 2] means "graceful" or "gentle" or "elegant".[1][2][4]

Background

Kumcha 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

Once 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

In 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 a Meitei language folk song named "Khunnung Eshei Nachom", Kumja Lembi and her Kabui friend are described as follows:

Meitei language version[lower-alpha 3][11]	English translation[12]
Kabui Chadi Nurabi Poktabina Langonbi Amuk thongba tarana Numidang chara oijabi Numidang thongba tarana Ayukki chindamchayom oijabi Enung nongna ngandringei Namu mikup londringei Singja Langubu pausibirey Kabui chadi nurabi Ayuk yenda mangdagi Korou singja langubi Humangi leirik kangdringei Loimom fousu takpirey Ho takpirey (3) Loimom fousubi Awa meisa loidrinei poktabi mamana Pamlou yallubu takprey Tara chajik charaga Khalei yotpu paiduna Kabui chadi nurabi Pothabadi yaodana Pamlou tannabu lakcharey Kabui chadi nurabi Awa meisa langbada Khangamdrabi leirangdo Khutagi yotlei thadokle Kourou nongdol thaja yeng Palem mamabu kouduna Hikna hikna kapchakhido Laibak thibi nujado Kegey maikei yengduna Chingu thagonnarak-ee Hikna kikna kaptuna Korou meisa langbada Ching-uu ebungo Ha moirangi thangjing Nahakti chanbi heiba mapuni Pamel madi khangammi Ningthem ulen nangbada Pamen urai tadedo Pamen madi enga kumdamlakpada Engen khumkharrakpada pamel madi Wai maktabu haidedo awa meisa khangamdana Pamel laktabu tinjage chinguba nangna Kubiyu asi wadi haiduna tentha chingoinaramlaga Maramna lamlen lamnungsi Kegey Moirangsu lamkonnung Thambal Nongsa loukonnung Yengtra nonghun lou Fibun ngairongching Sareng chingibu chingmeine Thangjing lamlon awangba Loibi thaktabu karakle Awabani Laibik thibi nujado Kabui chadi nurabi Loibi thakta leptuna Khoiyum Thangjing thagonna Awa meisa khangamba Nungairakta chonthorakleda Nura mana paithei haibagiPaitha lamjao thonneiyei Lemna mangba yadedo Singen oina saiyonle Sajibu laiyen taibada Koina leihun tambada Singen leisat tamlakle Hada leirang leinungsi Awang Koubru Lokchinkol Hembanabu lalum khun Huirei Ngangbi Chingnungkok Thoudu nandaba khundana panbabu leirangni Maronniba londreba Makhunidabu khundreiba Haoba Khongjaibningthouba Tolongkhomba koubana Khutta singjang paidunaUrai hanna, hangdrei chanduna Pamel singja langbada Leirang mabu yaoba lei Leirang mawu tabana Pamel ujao manba lei Leirangi leina tabana Kaoren khongu manbi lei Leirang mana pomlingei Nuragi khutsa manbi lei Leirang fugaina satlaga Lupai nachom manbi lei Leirangna satpa ubada Moirangi yaifaba Thiyam Chaobagi mammomloi Kumjalembi ebemma Loibi chingda kaduna Singen wana hekcharey Nungsidako etaroi Singen nangbu heklaga Nungsi mapau ngaibada Leirang maiyyok oijagey Sanjenthongi thongyaida Nura kumjarembina Leirang khutta paiduna Mathanglen Pumnao tabasu Ngaingam leiniko leinungsi Hada leirang itaroi Panthousingna sonnaba Loibi chanura amana Saiyonbini haineiko Singen kolloi thonduna Loibi chingi lokmangda Malang Cheiroinaduna Yendou nangbu manglagadra Ngasi Kunjalembi eihakna Loibi chanurana saiyonba eta nangbu Chingdagi mingthang khara lou Loibi Chanuragi mingthang khara lou Leirang nangi namingdu Loibi Chingthrao thollamgeyko etaroi	The lass of Kabui Tribe Guardianed by the woman who bore her not The morning-cooked rice, cold and old Would be for her the night meal The old food of the day gone It’d be packed and bound for her day-meal Well before the day breaks When the village folks are fast asleep Out in the forest was she sent to gather fire-woods The lass of Kabui Tribe Who before day-break Brought home fire-woods Well ere the sweat-beads on her fair face did dry Was she told to do the pounding of all the rice Ho … she was told (3) Well ere the weariness and the anguish ends the mother who bore her not Tasked the lass to slash at the Jhum field Eating the life-giving food Iron spade in her hands The lass of Kabui Tribe Knowing no rest Out set she for the Zhum field The lass of Kabui Tribe Burning herself through the sufferings The flower like maiden who could no longer bear The iron spade slipped away from her hands Skyward she raised her gaze at the moon Calling aloud to her mother She wailed in utter distress The ill-fated lass Then turning herself towards Kege Prayed to the Lord Crying her heart out. Agonized by the days unbearable To the Lord Haa … Thangjing of Moirang The kind-hearted master that you are! The tall trees could bear The frost of the winter Could bother it not Whilst the Early Monsoon makes up the fate of the floral lives that season And the Later Monsoons hands out the fate of the floral lives that season Said the mighty trees not a word of weariness Resilient and bearing Make me one among them Lord Kindly do oblige, saying these words Wailing aloud she said Beloved native land of hers The fields of Kege-Moirang The fields of Thambal-Nongsha slopes The Nonghu meadows beheld The Fibun Ngaroi Hills The place where Sareng Hill ends. The Thangjing Highlands Upward on the mountain she climbed Woefully the ill-fated maiden With prayers to Lord Thangjing in her heart The agony she had been bearing. Downward she jumped unto the rocks That the maiden flew down, the place Was hence named Paitha meadows In vain could she not perish Hence reincarnated the lass as a Flower on the trees And when winter cold ends The buds do spring The one blossom on the trees too appeared Oh! Ye beloved Flower At North Koubru where the The village of Hemban Lalum Khun The Peak Hurei Nganbi There seated aloft the boulders unsmooth these blossoms Of different tongue spoken Of different village lived The Chief of Khongjai Tribe Tollongkhomba was his name Axe in hand Cut and bound trees Gathering Firewood In the bundle … the flowers … the wood was bounded too Looking at the Trunk She seems a tree mighty and told Looking at the petals She resembles the cattle’s footprints Looking at the bud She looks like maiden’s finger And when she fully blooms She becomes the intricate silver flower bunch worn at beauty’s ears Seeing the flowers in full bloom The prosperous of Moirang Thiyam Chaoba whose daughter The fair maiden Kunjalembi Atop the mountain she went Ventured the tiresome climb and dearly did pluck Beloved companion Holding you in my hands When I wait for words from my suitor You be for me the one to stand with Amid the wooden bridge stood she Fair maiden Kunjalembi Flower in hand In wait of her suitor Pungnao Taba Beloved flower did accompany her Haada flower beloved friend of mine The village fathers did say Of a highland lass Become you are. Lovely flower unnamed Afront the mountain waterfalls Blown ajar by the wind Fear that you might lose your way This day, I Kunjalembi Oh beloved friend – reincarnated by a lass of the hills Deriving a little from ‘Ching’ I give to you my dear Your name ‘Loibi Chingthrao’.

In popular culture

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$670 in 2023).[13]

Bibliography

Singh, Wahengbam Ibohal. The History Of Manipur.
SINGH, SURESH (1986). THE PRINCE AND THE ROSE. LAKSHMIPRIYA DEVI, IMPHAL.

Notes

In Meitei language (officially called Manipuri), the sounds of "ch" and "j" are in free variations.
In Meitei language (officially called Manipuri), the sounds of "pi" (/pee/) and "bi" (/bee/) are in free variations.
Being a folk song, the following contents are in public domain.

References

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.
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.
Singh, Kokngang (1970). Anouba Yenning (in Manipuri). Manipur University Library, Imphal. India: Ibemcha Home Library, Kongpal, Imphal; Digital Library of India. pp. 6–12.
Singh, Kokngang (2008). Apunba Saklon (in Manipuri). Manipur University Library, Imphal. India: Kongbantabam Bidyalaxmi Devi; Digital Library of India. pp. 6–12.
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.
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.
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.

External links

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[free_variation-3] In Meitei language (officially called Manipuri), the sounds of "ch" and "j" are in free variations.

[free_variation_2-5] In Meitei language (officially called Manipuri), the sounds of "pi" (/pee/) and "bi" (/bee/) are in free variations.

[13] Being a folk song, the following contents are in public domain.

[:Chingmee_Tamee-1] 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.

[:Kumcha_1-2] 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.

[4] 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.

[6] Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary ("Lembi")". dsal.uchicago.edu (in Manipuri and English). University of Chicago. Retrieved 2023-08-05.

[:Kumcha_2-7] 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.

[:Anouba_Yenning_Kumcha-8] Singh, Kokngang (1970). Anouba Yenning (in Manipuri). Manipur University Library, Imphal. India: Ibemcha Home Library, Kongpal, Imphal; Digital Library of India. pp. 6–12.

[:Apunba_Saklon-9] Singh, Kokngang (2008). Apunba Saklon (in Manipuri). Manipur University Library, Imphal. India: Kongbantabam Bidyalaxmi Devi; Digital Library of India. pp. 6–12.

[:Kumcha_3-10] 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.

[11] Hodson, T. C. (1908). The Meitheis. Duke University Libraries. London: D. Nutt. p. 151.

[12] 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.

[14] 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.

[15] 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.

[16] "2018-19 SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI ANNUAL REPORT" (PDF). Sangeet Natak Akademi. p. 121.