Wangam (ancient tribe)

Wangam
ꯋꯥꯉꯝ / ꯋꯥꯡꯉꯝ
The holy totem of the Ningthouja clan to which Wangams merged with a section of tthe Poireis to form the broader clan.
Languages
Ancient Meitei language
Religion
Sanamahism
Related ethnic groups
Ningthoujas, Mangangs

The Wangams were an old tribe in Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). They were of Tai origin and later mixed with a branch of the Poirei tribe and came to be known as the Poirei-Wangams.[1][a]

Origin

Wangams belonged to the Tai Mungs, Tai Ngai-Laos and Tai Lai. It is said that Tai Mungs (Great-Tais), belonged to the Ai-Lao race. They then travelled to and settled in appropriate locations throughout Southeast Asia. A branch of the Ai-Lao race moved to the low hills to the west of the Manipur valley and established themselves there.[2][1]

Mix with Tai Dam

In the beginning, other Tai families called Black Tai or Tai Dam (named for their black clothing), came from the throne of Khamnung and moved to the slopes of Mount Koubru and nearby hills. They likely traveled along the Ningthi (Chindwin) River, through the Somra area, and up to the Iril River, reaching the northern part of the Manipur valley near Kanglatongbi.

After they settled, they met the Wangam people. Over time, the two groups mixed together and came to be known as Poirei-Wangams or Meeteis.[2]

Foundation of the Ningthouja throne

Among these merged groups, a particular line established its seat of administration at Kangla. This ruling group came to be known as the Ningthouja. They are considered to belong to one of the nine sub-groups of the Tai-Lai people, a branch of the Ngai-Lao lineage (Wangam blood). Thus, these groups were also nicknamed Poireis.[2]

Relationship with other groups

Chengleis

When the Chengleis began to move to the north-east of the hills now known as the Mapao hill where the Selloi-Langmai settled, and when all these tribes continued to live as good neighbours with the Wangams, intermarriages started more particularly among the Selloi Langmai and the Chenglei and their associated tribes. Wangam boys also started marrying girls of these tribes. The Wangam elders neither liked their boys to marry girls belonging to these tribes, nor their girls marrying to the boys of these tribes.

In texts like the Ningthourol Lambuba, it states that the Meitei (Wangam) prince Hongnemyoi Khunjao Naothingkhong married to a girl named Narum Rangbi Santing Nganbi of the Thangnga tribe, which was a sub-section of the Chenglei clan.[3]

Moirangs

Wangam kings, from Taothingmang upto Pengsiba started marrying girls from the Haokap, Chingsang, Khunpham, and Ngangcheng tribe within the Moirang clan.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Hareshwar Goshwami. Hareshwar Goshwami History Of The PEOPLE OF MANIPUR. pp. 119–120.
  2. 1 2 3 Hareshwar Goshwami. Hareshwar Goshwami History Of The PEOPLE OF MANIPUR. pp. 153–154.
  3. ↑ Singh, Wahengbam Ibohal. The History Of Manipur. pp. 75–76.
  4. ↑ Singh, Wahengbam Ibohal. The History Of Manipur. p. 96.
  1. ↑ Poirei refers to some groups of Tai origin which came to Kangleipak. Here, Poirei refers to the Tai groups which merged with the Wangams.
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