KAWLNI/COLNEY TE TANCHIN

Zuangkhua ah ateenlai un Thangsing upa khang giatna Pu Tonglun leh anaupa Singzaniang sajuh delh in akuanva, huchiin anaupa Singzaniang in gungal lam tanpha ava delh a hukaalin guntui anakhanga kaan zounonlouin a unau un guntui in halin gungal khat tuah ah akikhen uhi. A upa Tonglun in loulam a balpite emmin athalpi in akaap kai zeela hute ane zeel hi. Ahihvangin guntui kiamtheilou ahihmanin atawptawp in aupa’n anaupa kawmah pai inla’n Tongtui khua ah Kheltete vabel mei in chiin anuaia late kiphuah khumin akikhenta uhi. Tonglun la: (1)Pupa khan a ikhang damtui luang aw, Tangkhau bah lou kei aw nem ngingei ing; (2)Tangkhau bah lou kei aw nem ngingei ing, Phamlou buanga tuai aw khenmai tani. Huchiin Singzaniang zong pai in Kheltete ava bel ta hi. Amah mihaat mihangsan, mithahoih mah mah ahihmanin Kheltete’n zong kulhpi veng in ana pangsah uhi. Hulai in mi’n vasim sawm ahihmanin Singzaniang in zong laulou in ana nohkiit zeel hi. Huhun lai in Khelte te’n amin kouh hah sa in amindiingin Kawlni chiin ana phuah sah uhi. Aziah chu nisuahna lampana hung kipan ahihmanin Ni-min pua a ana phuah uh ahi. Amah thalkap siam a minthang ahi.Kulhpi Venga a pan na ah, mi’n vavel ahihmanin Kawlni in la khat hung phuah hi. Ala: (1) Natah aisan san lou aw, tah thepi aw kawlki valnou kamkei bang ka gial hi. Hi thu chu Pu Lianthanga Kawlni Ngathal khua a um in kum 1992 a pu Chinzalian toh asui uh ahi. Pu Liangthanga in asoi daan in chu, amau Kawlnite Kheltete khua a kipan in abaan baan in a kisuanva, Khelte pan Thuklai ah, hupan Chiakzawl, Chiakzawl apan in Muallungah, Muallung pan in Vangcchia ah, hubaan ah Khawthlir ah, hu apan in Leisan ah, hua pan in Ngathal ah huchia hung paisuh suh kahi uhi kei a pan in khanggiat tan chiang kasuui thei achi. Hute chu : 1)Daipawla 2)Vanlawma 3)Honglaia 4)Siahkhupa 5)Selvunga 6)Thangsaluta 7)Lianthanga- 1.Thangthuama anau Tlangthangliana. Huchi in Kawlni chu Thangsing suanmah kahi uh achi hi. Ngurte a Pa Pumthong toh zong Thallouh in kiman uhi. Huchiang in Khawpuibung a um Kawla Kawlni in zong Thangsing suan ka hi na uh achi hi. Courtesy: Thangsing Tangthu leh Ngei Nate,P-61-63,Thangzasawm,1999,Singngat,Manipur, 1999.

SOMETHING ABOUT TONSING

The Manipur Tonsings are part and parcel of the Paites, who reside mainly in the district of Churachandpur (Lamka) and number about 10000 to 15000. They are a small group of people who are an important constituent of the Paite tribe. Their customs and traditions are no different from that of the Paites. Infact, the traditions and practices of the Tonsings are the Paite traditions and usages. There is no separate identity of the Tonsings outside of the Paite community. We inherit our traditions and customs/usages from and with the Paite and thus, those found at the Paite pages are those of the Tonsings too. There are other Tonsings in parts of Mizoram and Burma (Myanmar). There is also an umbrella organization of all the Tonsings called the TONSING INPI (Inpi= main house) which as the name suggests, is the body which looks after and keeps record of all the Tonsings and their relations with other clans. The offices of the Tonsing Inpi is located at Lamka, Churachandpur, Manipur, India. This house is right now busy collating information about all the Tonsings in the contiguous areas of Manipur, Mizoram and Myanmar (Burma) to compile the genealogy in a book form. It is a big project and it is nowhere near completion. As soon as the editors think it is almost complete, some other Tonsings pop out from somewhere else and the process begins all over again. We are hoping it will be completed in as little time as is humanely possible. It had been common knowledge among the Paites that the Tonsings are descended from the Guites(and the Paites are part of the Zomi/Mizo nomenclature). The Guites claim the Chief-ship among the Paites and that all the Paite sub-tribes are under them. There are some other stories and legends that try to explain the birth of the Tonsing clan. A. One woman called ZUALNING, the wife of the chief of ZUANG village near Tiddim in Myanmar, was captured by the Guite chiefs and brought to their village. She was a captive and as was wont for war captives, she was kept at the courtyard. One of the Guite chief's sons clandestinely slept with this woman and she became pregnant. She was tied to the TONMUNG, which was the sacrificial pillar. The birthing of the baby coincided with the Ton of the Guite chief and since the baby was born in time for it, he was called TONSIM, literally meaning "one who partakes" of something (the TON festival in this case). It is said that TONSING is a corruption or modification of the word TONSIM and this boy's descendants came to be called TONSINGs. B. Another source refutes this illegitimate child theory and say that the woman, ZUALNING, was already pregnant when she was captured. The birthing of the child was a public spectacle with all the villagers coming out to watch the birth of the baby. It was thus with much shame that the mother gave birth to this baby. It is said that the baby thus born was called BUANSING, descendants of whom are still are existent and are regarded close to the Tonsings genealogically. Since this woman, Zualning, was very beautiful, those who go by this theory say, that the Guite chief took her to be his wife. It is rather out of this legitimate relationship that Tonsing was born.

TONSING LEH HAUSING TANCHIN

Thangsing ji Zualning Guite te'n amat laitahun amah agai ahi a, amat nung uh hunsawt lou in Guite te in zong ton leh haat bawl in asuun azaan in a lam uh a ; alaam phualva Zualning anauneih in apha a anau chu kolbulh kawm in anei a, aphit ahiva pasal tuah ahi uh. Zapi mai ah laamphual a nauneih ahihmanin Zualning zum talua in etnangzong helouin hibang in la ahungphuahta hi : 1.Vongel lam gial nakiah ni'n lunsum tual ah, bahkhipha bang zatan lambang vel veh e. 2.Natu'n kazeh zum aw e kalelliang aw, anglai ka henkol in zong liah zoulou e. Huchi in Guite pa'n zong I ton I hauh hung sim ahih chiangun chiin amin diingun TONSIM leh HAUHSIM hisah ni achi a; huchi in Tonsing leh Hauhsing minmasa chu TONSIM leh HAUHSIM aki chi hi. Tonsing zong Guite insung ah hung umnonlouin atuam in aumta a amahzong neih leh lam akiningchingta ahih manin Tong diingin ahung kisa tahi. Ahihvangin Guite pa'n atonding aphalsiha, hmar gam lamzuanin ahung pai a, Tonsim khua ahung saat hi. Hukhua chu tunitanin aum nalai a, simlam mite'n TONSIM achi uh a, Aizawl lamte'n CHAMPHAI achi uhi.Huchu amin pua a akhosat min aphuah ahi. Huziahin Tonsing leh Hauhsing chu Thangsing/NGAIHTE suan ahi uhi. Courtesy: Thangsing Tangthu Leh Ngeinate,Page 60,Thangzasawm,1999.

WAVES OF MIGRATION OF THANGSINGS PRIOR TO THE SETTLEMENT AT MANIPUR

Burma Settlement: In Chiimnuai Pu Ngaihte and his offsprings multiplied and became the chief of a village.Chiimnuai was referred to by Carey and Tuck,both of them British ethnographers, as the "Chin Garden of Eden".Chiimnuai was believed to be located somewhere in the present Chin state of Myamnar. The offsprings of Pu Ngaihte were Thangsing, Leivang, Biangtung, Sonna, Hangluah, Taitom,Seldou,Hautual,Khumlai,Vang-aw and Vang-hau.During the first half of the 12th century,Pu Thangsing left Chiimnuai and founded the village of Zuangkhua.There were 72 houses and they settled there till the eight generation from Thangsing to Tonglun:1)Thangsing 2)Dougeu and his twin brothers Tonsing and Hausing(born at the house of Guite when Pi Zualning,the wife of Thangsing was taken as a captive by the Guite chief).3)Singlun 4)Geuhthang 5)Lunpum 6)Thangthawng 7)Pumkhual 8)Tonglun and his lost brother Singzaniang(Kawlni/Colney).After the death of Pu Tonglun his son Singel left Zuangkhua and founded the village of Tuaidim,but the people abandoned it and founded the village of Baaljang.The village was close to Teddim.After settling in Baaljang for a considerable period of time,the village of Khuangnung was founded.Khungnung was a big village and was a melting pot of different clans.This was in the years 1500-1550.Khuangnung village lies betweent the present Lailo and Tuilang in the Teddim area of Myanmar.The begginning of 1700 saw the continous raids and attacks of Khuangnung by the Zahau Pawis who were aided and offered guns by the Burmese king.Thus,the Khuangnung people unable to offer ressistance fled in two groups, one group went towards Lailo and the other group to the Lushai hills and gradually proceeded to Manipur. MIZORAM SETTLEMENT: The Khuangnung people led by the Thangsings entered into aan alliance with the Lushai chief lalphunga Sailo.Till the the time of reaching Lalphunga they founded a number of villages enroute,namely,Songtal,Tualtongphai,Gelon,Sebulon,Kelmeng,Maukot and Khuangnung(named after the original Khuangnung of Myanmar).The Khuangnung people at this period were led by Gouneng Thangsing.Pu Lalphunga Sailo ordained Pu Gouneng Thangsing as the chief of Labung(now Tlabung).These events were tentatively believed to have occured around 1820. MANIPUR SETTLEMENT: The Khuangnung people marched on towards Manipur from Ponlan to Tuaitong to Teikhang,then to Tuikuak and so on.In around 1850 they arrived at the Moirang plains.The Khuangnung people under the leadership of Pu Khamzahen Thangsing were given lands to settle in by the Manipuri maharaja Chandrakirti Singh and his son Bir Tikendrajit Singh(also called Sana Koireng).Chandrakirti Singhand Khamzahen were close friends and as a show of affection,the Maharaja even presented to him 30 single barrel guns.The particular village where they had settled is known as Lamtan village near Moirang.The hill range Thangjing was originally named after Pu Khamzahen Thangsing who offered great assistance to the Manipuri king Chandrakirti Singh and his son Sana Koireng by putting an end to Mao extremism.This eventually led to the birth of Mao-Thane. Some other villages inhabited by them were Nahbil,Singbung,Saikul near Moirang and they proceeded towards the hills and founded villages namely Sanching,Phaikholum,Kaihlam,Haanlon and finally Tualbual(popularly known as Thanlon). Meanwhile,the elders of Thangsing who headed the other migratory Khuangnung people proceeded from Lailo,to Laikheng,to Chijam,to Tuikai(Mimbung),to Hiangmual,Khoduhlian,Buanli,Hianjaang,Khiangte,Puaktam,Saisih,Muallum,Tualkhiang,Lasan and finally entered Manipur to establish a village called Suangdai on the Indo-Burma border. The villages founded by the Thangsings were clearly stated in the memoirs of Pu Lumthang Thangsing who founded the village now popularly known as Thanlon;Lumthang was accorded to the status of a Raja by the British because of his superiority and large ownership of lands in the South-west corner of Manipur,particularly the areas in and around Thanlon.His memoir dated April 14,1924 stated the following: "The villages founded by us from our origin at Khul were Zuangkhua(Chin hills),Tuaidim(Chin Hills),Baaljang(Chin Hills),Khuangnung(Chin Hills),Songtal(Chin Hills),Tualtongphai(Lushai Hills),Gelon(Lushai Hills),Sabulon(Lushai Hills),Kelmeng(Lushai Hills),Maukot(Lushai Hills),Khuangnung(Lushai Hills;founded for the secondth time),Labung/Tlabung(Lushai Hills),Ponlang(Lushai Hills),Tuaitong(Lushai Hills),Teikhang(Luahai Hills),Tuikual(Lushai Hills),Moirangphai(Manipur),Thangsing Taang(Manipur;now known as Thangjing range),Nabil(during the time of Chandrakirti Singh),Maumun(Manipur),Lamtan(Manipur),Singbuang(Mnipur),Saikul(Manipur),Kaihlam(Manipur),Sanching(Manipur;now called Santing),Phaikholum(Manipur),Hanlon-Tualbual(Thanlon). The glory and honour of the Simtes in general and the Thangsings in particular was at its zenith under the chiefship of Raja Lumthang Thangsing,the son of khamzahen thangsing;Raja because he was so called by the British authorities.The wisdom and remarkable leadership of Raja Lumthang Thangsing brought about unity,progress and fraternity among the people.He was possessed with a large area of land under his control and thus created new villages whereby he appointed his brothers as the chiefs in these villages.Singnifant new villages were Mongon,Zoutung,PAmzal,Sainouzang,Dialkhai,Leijangphai,Suangpeehmun,Sumtuh(originally Sumtuah),Gamhui,Bungjang,Vaipheimual and Tallian.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE THANGSING CLAN

Thangsings belong to the Ngaihte clans who claim themselves to be the eldest sons of Ngaihte.They are pre-dominantly settled in Churachandpur district of Manipur.There is also a considerable population in the neighbouring states of Assam,Nagaland and in Chin state of Myanmar. Most of the Thangsing(s) speak Khuangnung dialect which is commonly known as Simte language in Manipur,India.However, the eldest among them use the Lailo dialect. They are a ruling clan among the Simte's and founded a number of villages in Manipur.Some villages which are still in existence are: 1)Thanlon 2)Zoutung 3)Sumtuh 4)Mongon 5)Pamzal 6)Sainoujang 7)Suangpeeh 8)Tallian 9)Suangdai 10)Tuijang Among all these villages, one of the most important village head by THANGSING is THANLON. THANLON, situated 3819 feet above sea level, is blessed with beautiful scenery, healthy climate and good water sources. It is one of the oldest villages in Churachandpur district. Thanlon and Tualbual are synonyms. Thanlon was selected by C.S.Booth, the then S.D.O., Tamenglong to be an administrative outpost within the erstwhile Tamenglong subdivision. Therefore it was an administrative outpost from 1934 until it was upgraded to a circle officer’ headquarters in 1946. The area occupied by government servants is known as Thanlon Lambulane and the area occupied by the Chief and his villagers is known as Tualbual. LUMTHANG Lumthang was a great chief of Ngaihte clan of Simte tribe. A century ago, he had established Thanlon (Tualbual) village. Major J. Shakespeare, SMS, gave him a boundary paper dated 11 February 1906 written in Lushai language which is reproduced below: Lumthanga Ramri Pathawnga’n lengphun kawna, Vangngul lui, Cherchi lui, Derkai kawn, Derkai lui, Tuivai Pamjal lui, Kaihlam tlangdung ramvawm lui Tuipui Thlanlawn lui, Kotukawn Tualbual lui Tuijang Pathawng lungphun. 11-2-06 J.Shakespeare Rampui Major