DOUNGEL INNPI & HANGHAL

DOUNGEL Innpi in hetthem lou jeh a Shongkip(Pumtu) Hanghal te ama ho sung a aneo pen a koi.

DOUNGEL KHAILHAH HO(According to Doungel Innpi)

1.HAONGUL

2.Thomzol

3.Thomlhun

4.Changtong

5.Hangkhup

6.Hangchan

7.Ngeltel

8.Nagou

9.Changlon

10.Saum/ lotjem

11.Haolai

12.Tuboi

13.Boisom/Dimngel

14.Lamhao

15.kilong

16.Pumtu / Lhanghal

RELATIONS OF DOUNGEL AND SHONGKIP (PUMTU) 

Doungel(Aisanpa) who is the piba(eldest) among the kuki had historical connection with the Shongkip(Pumtu). It will be a paradoxical to some scholars about the relations between the Doungel(Aisanpa) and the Shongkip(Pumtu). But bloodline define the rationality of the Doungel(Aisanpa). Doungel(Aisanpa) although he was not the eldest(pipa) among the kukis, earned the title of the eldest(piba) and even till today the clans among the kukis gave Sating( a customary practice of kukis which marked and respect to the eldest brother by giving the spine of an animal) to Doungel(Aisanpa). The blood line of Doungel Aisanpa at a time ended with the death of the Chief of Aisan for he left without a son to inherit and continue his rule. So, a deeply analysis should be done to understand who really are the Doungel( Aisante) in contemporary age. 

At times, Doungel(Aisanpa) the chief of Aisan had only one daughter and had no sons. Chengjapao Hanghal married to the only daughter of the Chief of Aisan. The chief of Aisan is left without the heir of inheritance as according to kuki customary law a son is  the only rightful heir to inherit the property and the bloodline is only traced through male-father to son. Chengjapao Hanghal as he married the only daughter of the Chief of Aisan ruled the village of Aisan as a sub- ordinate to the Chief of Aisan. Gaining the trust and wisdom of the Chief of Aisan, Chengjapao Hanghal exercise his insightful knowledge in assisting the Chief of Aisan in governing the Village of Aisan and began gaining favour of the Chief of Aisan. Chengjapao Hanghal and his wife stayed in the house of the Chief of Aisan and assist the Chief of Aisan till the last breath of the Chief. When the Chief of Aisan died, his only daughter took all the ornaments( traditional necklace, earings etc.) that each marked the power and superiority of the Chief of Aisan and let her husband wear the ornaments. Then, Chengjapao Hanghal became the Chief of Aisan and began to exercise his full power in governing the Village of Aisan. During his rule, the first world war 1914-1919 broke out which affected the kuki dominated areas. It should be rightly pointed out that the kukis did not tolerate any invasion to their Autonomy and their cultural rights, and historically the kukis did not serve any masters, the village Chiefs governed their land as the indomitable kings. Chengjapao Hanghal as the Chief of Aisan began to participate in the war between the kukis and the British. Subsequently, Chengjapao Hanghal began to emerged as one of the greatest leader among the kukis in the war. The war was known to the world as Anglo Kuki War of 1917to 1919 in which the kukis fought the Britishers to defend their sovereignty and autonomy. The kukis fought the war with using guerrilla warfare/jungle warfare. Chengjapao Hanghal reluctantly surrendered to the British on 23,August,1918 as the forces of the kukis and the mighty British is beyond compared. After the complete suppression of the war by the British, the kukis were forced to finger point their leader among them. On hearing the British order, the kukis were left with doubt and fear, for they had the intention that the Britishers will execute the leader. The kukis conspired and finger pointed Chengjapao Hanghal, Chief of Aisan as their mi-upa) 'pipa' among them and that he was the Chief leader and organiser of the Anglo Kuki War of 1917 to 1919. Chengjapao Hanghal was imprisoned by the British colonial rulers for his role in the Anglo-Kuki War of Independence, which lasted from 1917 to 1919. He was imprisoned in Taungyi Jail in Burma (Myanmar). Initially, other Kuki chiefs were imprisoned here for three years. But,Chengjapao Hanghal was detained for another year beyond the three year term served by the other chiefs, likely due to his leadership role as "Mi-upa" (head of all Kuki clans). He was released in 1923. After his released, Chengjapao Hanghal was given the acknowledgement letter by the British as the mi- upa(head of all kuki clans). The British gave certificate that acknowledge him as the Kuki Raja(king of Kuki) and his clan was written as Doungel from that time.

 In all the writings of historian and scholars, Chengjapao Hanghal was written as Chengjapao Doungel and the British acknowledgement letter and symbols of Chengjapao Hanghal as mi-upa( head of all kuki clans) were written as Chengjapao Doungel. Chengjapao Hanghal while enjoying the power as the Chief of Aisan despised his kinship/clan and accepted Doungel as his clan's/kinship, and disregarding and disrespect by other kuki clans also led to the despised of his kinship/clanship by Chengjapao Hanghal himself. Even today, Chengjapao Hanghal was written as Chengjapao Doungel in the kuki history and his role in the Anglo Kuki War of 1917 to 1919 was the greatest outstanding among the kuki leaders at that time. 

Chengjapao Hanghal was named after Ngulcheng Hanghal( Ngulcheng - Chengjapao) and his progenies were still using Doungel as their kinship . Even today, his descendants still rule the Village of Aisan and remained as the head of all the kukis( mi- upa). Chengjapao Hanghal was among the youngest in the sub- clans of Hanghal. Among the progenies of Hanghal, Neingul was one among the sub-clans and Chengjapao Hanghal was the descendants and on the linage of 'Haongul'. Currently, Ngamkhotinthang Doungel who is the great grandson of Chengjapao Doungel rule the Aisan Village and remained as the head of all kukis. 

Today, the Shongkip(Pumtu) phungpi, an organisation of the Hanghal headed by some greedy and hypocratic out of ignorance gave Doungel(Aisanpa) sating( a customary practice in which the spine of an animal is given to the eldest by the younger brothers to marked respect/eldest) and so, this became a controversial to the Hanghal people. The Hanghal's at any cost will not be able to give Sating to Doungel (Aisanpa) as Doungel(Aisante) are the blood brothers of Hanghal, and they are one of the youngest among the progenies of Hanghal. Shongkip( Pumtu) was the person who migrated form the mythical cave from China with his brothers. Shongkip(Pumtu) was the younger brother of Shongthu(Guite). So, the rightful eldest brother who can be given Sating by Hanghal is Shongthu(Guite). The kukis followed patriarchal system in which the bloodline is traced through father to son so, one must be fully aware to simply assimilate to other clans/kin deliberately or out of ignorance inorder to prevent the generations from disgrace and misunderstanding.

~ Minlal Hanghal

Courtesy: MIRROR OF THE KUKI NATION

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