Khamba Thoibi Sheireng

epic poetry in Meitei literature

The Khamba Thoibi Sheireng or the Khamba Thoibi Seireng (Meitei: ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡ, lit.'Poem on Khamba Thoibi'[1]) is a 1940 Meitei language classical epic poem. It tells the old love story of Khuman prince Khamba and Moirang princess Thoibi of Moirang kingdom[a] of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). It is the greatest work (magnum opus) of Hijam Anganghal, the "Bard of Samurou". It is regarded as the national epic of the Manipuris.[2][3][4] It is regarded as the greatest of all the epic poems in Meitei literature. It contains 39,000 lines and is even longer than the Ramayana.[5][4][6]

Khamba Thoibi Sheireng
AuthorHijam Anganghal
Original titleꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡ
TranslatorDr. Jodhachandra Sanasam
Country Manipur Kingdom (historical)
 India (current)
LanguageMeitei language (officially known as Manipuri language)
SubjectMeitei literature (Manipuri literature)
GenreEpic cycles of incarnations in Moirang, Epic poetry, National epic
Publication date
1940
The epic is based on the love story of Khuman Prince Khamba and Moirang Princess Thoibi

It is one of the large literary bodies of the Epic cycles of incarnations ("Moirang Shayon") as well as the "Moirang Kangleirol" (ancient Moirang legends), two of the largest Meitei cultural resources of Manipur.

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Notes change

  1. Moirang was an independent kingdom in early times, though later became a province of a unified kingdom, called Manipur Kingdom.

References change

  1. George, K. M. (1992). Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 29. ISBN 978-81-7201-324-0.
  2. 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.
  3. Datta, Amaresh (1988). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 1186. ISBN 978-81-260-1194-0.
  4. 4.0 4.1 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Delhi, All India Radio (AIR), New (1975-08-31). AKASHVANI: Vol. XL. No. 35 ( 31 AUGUST, 1975 ). All India Radio (AIR),New Delhi. p. 1582.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

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