Kom people (India)
Encyclopedia
The Kom are a community of people mainly found in Manipur
, North-East India
. They are scattered over all the districts of Manipur. They have very close cultural similarities with non-Naga tribes of Manipur, native tribes of Tripura
and the Mizos (which can be broadly describe as Chin-Kuki-Mizo). They are a sub-tribe of Komrem/Komhrem. Even though they are referred as "Kom", among them they referred themselves as Kakom. Their origin is unclear as they were nomadic people till they entered Manipur. They entered Manipur through Tripura. Their clan names come into existence only when they came out of a cave. The location of the cave is believed to be somewhere in the borders of China
. Shongthu, Saiche, Misai and Mirem were the leaders when they came out of the cave. The names of these leaders became the Clan names of the Kom people. Even though Telien and Mhangte did not take part in the cave incident, but they later became clan names. These people are referred as Kom by the British Raj
. The present Koms are just a small percentage of the descendants of Shongthu, Saiche, Misai, Mirem, Telien and Mhangte. According to 2001 Census of India, the population of Kom is 14, 602.
The present clan names and their original clan name are as follows:
Even though the clan names have change as generation pass on, the elders of each of the main original clans are still among the Koms. The majority of the community are Christian
. Their stories are pass down through generations by oral/verbal forms or word of mouth.
__FORCETOC__
, near Reed Sea or Sea of Reeds near Red Sea
(in Kom: Tuita-at meaning Cut by Water) and finally settled in Manipur, India. Even before that, they believe that, there was once an island in which there was a Kingdom known as Manmasi Kingdom. The King was known as Manmasi and the people were called Sons of Manmasi. During those times they worship three gods namely, Rampu, Okpa and Sentai. One day, there was a misunderstanding between the Bird
s and the Reptile
s and they declared war to each other. The battle between the animals was so violent that the three gods began to fear that it might spread beyond the Kingdom of Manmasi. So they combined their powers and lift it up in the sky. In the process, all the living things died. There was a particular tree in which a potion of "Life and Heal" was present. The tree is called Bongpuijamtrai. Even that huge tree fell and the potion was spilled and then vaporized. All those living things who could feel the vapor came to life again. All the Sons of Manmasi who came back to life live on the hovering island for generations. There came a time when the oxygen was no more in the atmosphere. The plants begun to die and so one family known as Purhing-Pudam made a flying object called Rot-Rakong and came down to earth once again. They landed in the middle east Asia in the kingdom of the great Lion Wizard. They somehow kill him and took his lands. When they reach earth they sing songs of the hovering island. The hovering island is none other than our Moon
. In Kom, it is known as "THLA" meaning farewell.
The moon song is given below:
The descendants of Shongthu keep the vow, especially Karoungs keep it till today with some exceptions after Christianity. The Karoungs believe the vow was indeed very powerful and so they do not kill or eat any Cat Family. And also believe that the Cat family too still observed it.
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
, North-East India
North-East India
Northeast India refers to the easternmost region of India consisting of the contiguous Seven Sister States, Sikkim, and parts of North Bengal...
. They are scattered over all the districts of Manipur. They have very close cultural similarities with non-Naga tribes of Manipur, native tribes of Tripura
Tripura
Tripura is a state in North-East India, with an area of . It is the third smallest state of India, according to area. Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on the north, south, and west. The Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east. The capital is Agartala and the main languages spoken are...
and the Mizos (which can be broadly describe as Chin-Kuki-Mizo). They are a sub-tribe of Komrem/Komhrem. Even though they are referred as "Kom", among them they referred themselves as Kakom. Their origin is unclear as they were nomadic people till they entered Manipur. They entered Manipur through Tripura. Their clan names come into existence only when they came out of a cave. The location of the cave is believed to be somewhere in the borders of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Shongthu, Saiche, Misai and Mirem were the leaders when they came out of the cave. The names of these leaders became the Clan names of the Kom people. Even though Telien and Mhangte did not take part in the cave incident, but they later became clan names. These people are referred as Kom by the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
. The present Koms are just a small percentage of the descendants of Shongthu, Saiche, Misai, Mirem, Telien and Mhangte. According to 2001 Census of India, the population of Kom is 14, 602.
The present clan names and their original clan name are as follows:
| Original Name | Present Name |
|---|---|
| Shōngthu | Karōng |
| Saiche | Serto |
| Misai | Leivon |
| Mirem | Lupheng |
| Telien | Telien |
| Mhangte | Mhangte |
Even though the clan names have change as generation pass on, the elders of each of the main original clans are still among the Koms. The majority of the community are Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
. Their stories are pass down through generations by oral/verbal forms or word of mouth.
__FORCETOC__
Before they came out of the Cave
The Koms believe that they journeyed from Middle EastMiddle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, near Reed Sea or Sea of Reeds near Red Sea
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
(in Kom: Tuita-at meaning Cut by Water) and finally settled in Manipur, India. Even before that, they believe that, there was once an island in which there was a Kingdom known as Manmasi Kingdom. The King was known as Manmasi and the people were called Sons of Manmasi. During those times they worship three gods namely, Rampu, Okpa and Sentai. One day, there was a misunderstanding between the Bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s and the Reptile
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
s and they declared war to each other. The battle between the animals was so violent that the three gods began to fear that it might spread beyond the Kingdom of Manmasi. So they combined their powers and lift it up in the sky. In the process, all the living things died. There was a particular tree in which a potion of "Life and Heal" was present. The tree is called Bongpuijamtrai. Even that huge tree fell and the potion was spilled and then vaporized. All those living things who could feel the vapor came to life again. All the Sons of Manmasi who came back to life live on the hovering island for generations. There came a time when the oxygen was no more in the atmosphere. The plants begun to die and so one family known as Purhing-Pudam made a flying object called Rot-Rakong and came down to earth once again. They landed in the middle east Asia in the kingdom of the great Lion Wizard. They somehow kill him and took his lands. When they reach earth they sing songs of the hovering island. The hovering island is none other than our Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
. In Kom, it is known as "THLA" meaning farewell.
The moon song is given below:
| In Kom | In English |
|---|---|
| Thla aw dilong dilong, Antram par par no ning Theimi don don no ning Kukalukpa thlavar lai a mancha kur kur. |
Oh shining Moon Mustard Mustard plant Mustards are several plant species in the genera Brassica and Sinapis whose small mustard seeds are used as a spice and, by grinding and mixing them with water, vinegar or other liquids, are turned into the condiment known as mustard or prepared mustard... flower will no longer bloom Wild berries Berry The botanical definition of a berry is a fleshy fruit produced from a single ovary. Grapes are an example. The berry is the most common type of fleshy fruit in which the entire ovary wall ripens into an edible pericarp. They may have one or more carpels with a thin covering and fleshy interiors.... will no longer have new buds When you shine, pungent smell will fill the atmosphere. |
Coming through the Cave
Shongthu was hunting with his dog and his dog was barking in one particular hole, big enough to enter. So he entered inside and found out that it leads to the other side. A huge tiger was guarding on the other side. When he return to the village his told the villager about it and all of them decided to leave their present village and venture out. He leads the people and Saiche was among the people. Shongthu wore a shawl which have a similar pattern with that of the tiger's stripes. He went near to the tiger. The tiger was just sitting there to kill anything coming out of the cave. Shongthu shouted to the tiger telling "Tiger, we are brothers, see I have stripes like yours and they people coming with me are my brother, so do not kill us." He adds "If I kill you or any species of your family then let me have great lost in my family and if you kill me or my family then let your teethes fall." During the conversation, Saiche shoot his arrow to the tiger and the tiger died.The descendants of Shongthu keep the vow, especially Karoungs keep it till today with some exceptions after Christianity. The Karoungs believe the vow was indeed very powerful and so they do not kill or eat any Cat Family. And also believe that the Cat family too still observed it.