Senpangjar Kom Village

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  Khuplenthang Kom (guest)

  Senpangjar Village, by its area and population, though it is very small like a newly established village, it is one of the oldest villages in KomRem History. Hence, to write a complete history of the village is not an easy task. On the other hand, Records are few and difficult to discover buried amidst the mass of information. However, we shall endeavour to discover the earliest inhabitants of our village by their traces behind in the curious stone and bronze weapons of war or domestic implements, and who lived in far remote periods before the dawn of history. The barrows, or tumuli, which contain their dead bodies, tell us much about them; and the caves and lake dwellings help us to form some very accurate notions of conditions of life in those distant days. Therefore, by gathering the curious gossip of the neighbourhood, the traditions and stories that have been handed down from former generations, it is believed that the community who established Senpangjar village were established as a village community in the early 18th century at Taobam of Tamenglong. According to our legends and stories, which were told to us by our grandsires, they were nomadic community trying to find a suitable location for sustaining themselves. Therefore, they move from one place to another most often. However, it was not sure for how long they stayed at Taobam of Tamenglong. Nevertheless, according to our legends and quaint stories, Mr Thangneileng Karong and his descendants have immense significance with the Senpangjar History. Mr Thangneileng Karong who was born while they were settled at Taobam of Tamenglong has five sons and they were Mr Nokersong Karong, Mr. Shongchung Karong, Mr. Choison Karong, Mr. Yampu Karong and Mr. Teba Karong. Amongst the five sons, Mr Choison Karong and Teba Karong were more related with the Senpangjar History. After Living in Taobam for several years, the whole community left Taobam for Khoiroi and settled there, but due to the scarcity of resources, which are far from meeting their expectations, they further moved toward Thanglong, which was believed to be during 1830-1840. The name ‘Senpangjar’, first it came into existence when they were staying in Thanglong. The word ‘Senpangjar’ is a word derived from Meitei language ‘SEMBANGJAN’ that means swallow birds hanging. (‘Sembang’ mean ‘swallow’ and ‘Jan’ means ‘hanging’) During those days, the hunters from Meitei community often come for hunting in the area at Thanglong. However, since there was no proper name of this area, the hunters, by seeing thousands of swallow along with their overhanging nest, attached on the rock in terms of dozen to thousand nesting pairs, the place was named as ‘Sembangjan’ as an identification of the landmark. Later on, due to the variations in pronunciation and accent, the name ‘SEMBANGJAN’ dramatically changed in-to Senpangjar. Therefore, many of the surrounding villages and people came to know the place and community living in the village as Senpangjar/sembangjan. During they stayed at Thanglong, Mr Choison Karong got married to one of Telen’s daughter, the daughter of the village Chief. According to the stories, the Chief, Telen have no son. Later, by seeing their son in-law Choison’s great personality a competent and respectable trustworthy person, the Telen Chief hand-over the Chieftainship to him. However, Mr Choison Karong transferred the village chieftainship to his elder brother, Mr Shongchung Karong, and thereafter Mr Shongchung Karong became the village Chief. On the other hand, Mr Choison Karong, being one of the most educated persons amongst the community and a very influential person; he has good friendship with the British too. Being a competent person, even the British wanted him to be one of the leaders in their department. It is pertinent to mention here that, from the times of their existence in the primeval forests, they established themselves in village community. Today, what remains have we on, our Kom village, of our Thanglong foregathers, the maker of Senpangjar? We notice that one of the names of the villager retain the memory which signifies their existence at Thanglong. Mr Longkhobel Karong, second son of Mr Shongchung Karong was born during their stay at Thanglong. While naming him, the name of the place ‘Long’ was prefixed to the given name ‘Longkhobel’. Therefore, the name Longkhobel, whose name is, compounded with this syllable ‘Long’, which denotes that the clan occupied the village. Later, Mr Shongchung Karong, being a chieftainship of Senpangjar brought the whole community to the land given by the British government, and they settled there. At present, that pace is known as HAOTAK (Keirap Khullen Haotak). With the passage of time, the British declared victory over Manipur Kingdom and became the Government in power in 1891. It is also one of the most important landmarks in the history of KomRem because Mr Teba Kilong was born this very year at Haotak. The community, though they were nomad, the name of their village “Senpangjar” remains the same wherever they move. After they left Thanglong, all the descendants of Mr Khupneileng Karong were lived together at Senpangjar (Haotak). Later, when Mr Teba Kilong reached the age of 5-6 years, his father Khupneileng Karong passed away. Mr. Choison Karong, the elder son of Mr. Khupneileng Karong, Head Lambu by profession at that time was posted at Ukhrul. During his stay at Ukhrul, the Tangkhul community who own Makokching village offered him to buy the village since they wanted to leave the place. Mr Choison accepted the offer and bought the village. Later on, Mr Choison Karong and his family along with his elder brother Mr Shongchung Karong and his family, Mr. Longkhobel karong, Mr. Seijathang karong, Mr. Shongkhosei Karong and other with few members of the community moved toward the place and established Mokokching. However, Mr. Teba Kilong and Mr Shongkholer Karong stayed back at Senpangjar with the majority of the community and Mr. Shongkholer Karong held the Chieftainship of Senpangjar. During the World War 1 (1914-1918) [fought between France and Germany as generally known by the older generations], the British being an ally of France, sent British troops to fight in the war. Meanwhile, since Manipur was under the governance of the British, troops were also sent from Manipur to fight under the British Army. Mr Teba Kilong and Mr. Shongkholer were amongst the British troops from Manipur. On their return from France, after the victory of the Allied Forces over Germany, the British Government in Manipur honoured Mr. Teba Kilong and Mr. Shongkholer Karong by giving them land, as a token of appreciation for their service. Therefore, the area of Senpangjar becomes bigger, which expanded from Haotak to Tharoilok. Today, though Tharoilok village belongs to other community, it was once our village, established by our forefathers where Mr. Vompu Karong and Mr. Helkhosei Karong , sons of Mr Thangkhojam Karong, the younger brother of Khupneileng Karong were the village heads. Mr Helkhosei Karong had no son while Mr Vompu Karong had only one son. After a few years, Mr. Vompu Karong passed away leaving behind his only son, Mr Houkhojang Karong at a very tender age. Therefore, the responsibility of chieftainship was given to their son-in-law. However, when his elders were no more, Mr Houkhojang Karong came back to Senpangjar and lived amongst his own people. Since the area of land falling under Senpangjar was quiet large, the community scattered and settled anywhere they like in any place where they feel comfortable within the area covered by Senpangjar. Therefore, they left Haotak and settled at a place, which is presently called Molsang Village. But due to the scarcity of resources, they stayed at this place for a short period. Thereafter, they shifted again to a nearby area, which at present is known as Bunglon Village. However, they could not settle for long even in this place due to the death of large numbers of villagers within a short period of their stay. They believed that these sudden deaths occur because bad spirits possessed the land. Therefore, they left the place immediately and they came to the present location, which we know as Senpangjar today. Ever since, Senpangjar Village has remained in the same place.

  10 years ago | reply | hide comment
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  NE Ver Mind

  CHRISTIANITY IN SENPANGJAR It was in the late 19th century, when Reverend William Pettigrew under the Mission of Arthington Abargenise landed at Bengal for the first time in India in the year of 1890, where he started his Mission on the Gospel of Christianity. MANIPUR AND CHRISTIANITY In the year of 1891, British conquered Manipur completely. It was on 6th Feb. 1894, after three years of British Rule in Manipur, when Rev. William Pettigrew entered Manipur for the first time under the consent of Mr A Portious, the acting Political Agent (as the Political Agent Major Maxwell was away at Furlough). On his first arrival for the Mission, Rev. William Pettigrew got strong opposition from the Government in power and the people living in the surrounding area. However, Rev. William Pettigrew established school at Moirangkhom (It may be noted that, the location of the school was recorded as Singjamei Thokchom Leikai in Mr. Teba Kilong’s diary) in the name of “Pettigrew Lower Primary School”, with the vision of spreading the Gospel amongst the school children. After continuing for six months, he was not allowed to continue his work in the valley. (When Political Agent, Major Maxwell returns from furlough, he found the Hindu Meiteis alarmed by Rev. William Pettigrew’s work. Maxwell immediately ordered the missionary to stop his work and leave Imphal). Thereafter, Rev. William Pettigrew was in search of a suitable place where he can start his mission work. During this period, Mr Porom Singh who hailed from Phajeng was the first Hindu Meitei who got baptized in the early 1896, and became the first Christian in Manipur. This year has been commemorated as the MBC Centenary, which was observed in the year of 1996. During 1894-1896, after rejection of his mission at Imphal valley, Rev. William Pettigrew approached southern part of Manipur at Senvon, when Kamkholun Singson was the chief of the village. As rejection by the authorities and neighbouring villages continued, Pettigrew headed towards north-west (MAO Area) and south too. Nevertheless, Rev. W. Pettigrew ceaselessly moved forward without losing his courage and he further headed towards PAOYI to the north through Ukhrul and Shirui Mountain, Khangkhui and so on. After attempting several regions, he finally came back to Ukhrul and he finally decided to start his mission work. It was during this period, the Pettigrew Lower Primary school of Moirangkhom was shifted here. With his ceaseless efforts and blessings from Almighty God, Rev. W. Pettigrew baptized twelve new believers on 29th September 1901, subsequently; Phungyo Church was established and became the first Church in Manipur. KOMREM AND CHRISTIANITY During those years, our great grandfather Mr Choison Kilong who hailed from Senpangjar, spent most of his time at Imphal valley and stayed there, due to his profession as a HEAD LAMBU. After the death of his parents, he brought his younger brother Mr. Teba Kilong and stayed along with him. Mr. Choison decided that Mr. Teba Kilong and his nephew Mr. Longkhobel should join the school at Moirangkhom where he started teaching them in Pettigrew School. Thereafter, the school was shifted to Ukhrul where Rev. W. Pettigrew established his Mission. Nevertheless, Mr. Teba Kilong and Mr. Songkhobel followed the school and they continued their studies at Ukhrul. After the school was shifted to Ukhrul, it served not only as a school but also as a place of learning the Gospel of God. As days went by, the knowledge of the living God was blessed upon them. Therefore, Mr. Teba Kilong and Mr. Longkhobel Kilong were amongst the 25th new believers who were baptized by Rev. W. Pettigrew in the year of 1906, and become the first two Christians from our KomRem society. In 1908, Mr. Songkholal visited his dear friends, Mr Teba Kilong and Mr Longkhobel Kilong. During his stay, Mr. Songkholal received the spirit of God, and was baptized by Rev. W Pettigrew at Imphal, and become the third Christian of our society. When seeing Songkholal’s thirst to learn more about the words of God, Mr Choison sent Mr. Songkholal to Ukhrul to pursue his schooling as well as for his further studies in the word of God and he stayed till 1911 along with Mr. Teba Kilong and Mr. Longkhobel. The love and affection of Rev. W Pettigrew towards Teba Kilong and Mr Porom Singh were so great that, he considered them as his own sons and lived along with them together, where he lived. It was in 1911, tension and crisis broke out throughout the region, which affected Imphal valley too. Due to these circumstances, schoolchildren were unabled to continue their studies, which forced them to abandon the school premise and escaped to their native villages. Therefore, Mr. Teba Kilong and Mr. Songkholal Kilong returned to Senpangjar but Mr. Longkhobel returned to Makokching Village because, when Mr Choison purchased Makokching in the year of 1906, he took along his relatives and friends to establish the new Village, Mr Longkhobel Kilong was amongst the members who were along with Choison. SENPANGJAR AND CHRISTIANITY In the following year of the 1911 incident, Teba Kilong without any work lying restless at home after he came back from Ukhrul. He, therefore, decided to join PWD Department. With a mutual understanding with Rev. U. M Fox (the second missionary) who granted his request and allowed him to join the said department. Later, Teba Kilong was appointed as a Road Mohori of 30 km. between the roads connecting Palel to Tamu where he served the department for some time. However, when Rev. W Pettigrew returned from his country, Pettigrew initiated Teba kilong for a bigger project as a missionary and was sent to his own native village to preach the word of Living God in the early 1915, which was during the World War-I fought between Germany and France. By the Grace of Almighty Father, the enthusiasm in missionary work and hard work of Teba Kilong, the word of Living God were blessed amongst his own family and friends in the village, and very soon, they were baptised. Twenty-five new believers including Mr. Teba Kilong established Senpangjar Church in the late 1915. However, by this time, Rev. W Pettigrew had already left Manipur for his country. CONCLUSION Phungyo Church was established in 1901 which became the first church of Manipur. After few years, Rev. U.M Fox baptised 12 new believers and established Tujangwaichong Church in 1914 which became the second Church of Manipur. Senpangjar Church was established in the early 1915 under the leadership and guidance of missionary Mr. Teba Kilong and became the third Church of Manipur and the first church of KomRem. Later, Keishamthong Baptist Church was also established during the leadership of missionary Rev. U.M Fox in 1916 and became the fourth Church of Manipur. Later, Rev. U.M Fox baptised Longkhobel’s entire family and others alongwith Mr. Choison Kilong at Keishamthong Baptist Church and after a short period of time, Makokching Church was established in 1917 and became the second Church of KomRem and one amongst the first 10th Churches of Manipur.

  10 years ago | reply | hide comment