During 1562 AD Manipur Kingdom was ruled by Meidingu
Mungyamba .During that time three Muslims from Shylhet (Presently Bangladesh)
reached Manipur namely Ashik Shah,Ruba Sheik and Katuwan Khan. The King
Mungyamba has three sons namely Khagemba,Chingsomba,Sanongba.In 1597 AD King
Mungyamba’s elder son Meidingu Khagemba become ruler of Manipur Kingdom.During
His period Manipur Kingdom was well known by well
wishes,intermarriage,goverened and well developed.
During this Khagemba’s period there was boat competition of
whole Manipur Kingdom on each and every year. It was a rainy season and the so
called competition has to start.Chingsomba of King Khagemba’s younger bro did
not have boat for the same competition. So Chingsomba hired a boat from youger brother Sanongba.During the competition the hired boat
has broke down in the river.The issue of the broken boat was discussed that
time.But younger brother Sanongba didn’t agree and insisted the same
boat.Sanongba replied,’’ Give the original Boat else I don’t agree’’.And this
issue become so outcry that it reached to King Khagemba’s Court. But the issue
could not solved through by King Khagemba.
King Khagemba angered to his younger brother Sanongba’s
intention.So he said,’’Bro Sanongba whoever we decided regarding this you don’t
saw any intention to agree,the issue of same boat should be returned to you
although it already destroyed. The almighty God can only fulfill your
intention,I am the King of Manipur you must know that.If you are not agree what
I endorsed the final judgments than you must leave Manipur Kingdom forever.’’ When the final judgment came to know by
Sanongba’s Mother Chang Pombi (Step Mother of King Khagemba) she wooed him for
the moment.Chang Pombi was deeply blow when her son was not become the King of Manipur.
Hence she and her servants started discuss the way revenge to King Khagemba’s Kingdom.
At last they decided to take help from Dimasha Prataphil of Cachar
Kingdom(Presently Assam) and they requested to King Prataphil to declared war
against Manipur Kingdom and later make Sanongba as Manipur’s King. Later
Dimasha king Praphil agreed on what they requested.
Dimasha King of Prataphil has started planning to attack
Manipur but he came to know that he Dimasha army could not defeat Manipur
Armies because they are much stronger than Dimasha Armies. So Dimasha King has
decided to to get help from Stronger Muslim army which based in
Shyllet(Presently Bangladesh) so that they easily defeat the Manipuri’s .So the
Dimasha King has requested to Nawab Najiri of Shyllet.Muhammad Najiri agreed on
what Dimasha’s requested.Nawab Najiri decided to declare against King Khagemba
of Manipur and sent his brother Muhammad Saani as Commander along with 1007
number of strong Muslim Army.Now Muhammad
Saani and his associate army reached at Udharband (Presently in Assam).They
prepared the war against Manipuri’s from Udharband which Dimasha Prataphil was
rulling.Prataphil’s commander Bhimbhal and the two guides reached in the
meantime at Udharband.
Then Bhimbal and the two guides along with Muslim army of 1007 lead by
Muhammad Saani left Udharband towards
Manipur.When Muslim Army lead by Md Saani reached Bishnupur,the Meitei Army
become surprised to see it.The war has started between Meitei and Muslim armies
in and around Bishnupur.Muslim Army has defeated the Meitei Army and reached
Imphal.After that the Muslim Army has said to the Meitei people that the war
has been over so the Muslim army wanted the privileged from them and wanted to
go back to Shyllet,Bangladesh.Meitei as replied to eager to do the same to
Muslim Army. Muslim army replied the exchanged of Privileged as Gold but the
Meitei told them to wait for few days so that they can arrange it. Accordingly
the Muslim army need to wait for it and go back to Shyllet.Meanwhile this
period the Muslim army were allowed to practice their religion and culture
freely in Manipur.One day when a Muslim army name Kamran Sheik was offering Saalat,
a person name as Dhananjai of Meitei Army catched him and ride through his horse and
gifted to King Khagemba’s court.When Nawab Md Saani came to know about this incident
he angered to the King and asked for the reason.MD Saani said to the King that he
waited for the Privileged as Gold but the Meitei should not catched his army on
that way and demanded to immediate released.Meitei replied that we waited for
the chance to take revenge because we Meitei are innocent but Muslims are
enemy.When the conversation was over Muslim got some uncomfortable for Meitei’s
behaviors and the Muslim army prepared to attack the Meitei Kingdom.Later the
Meitei Kingdom decided to settled the issue with Muslim army on peaceful
way.Later the Muslim army were allowed to settle permanently in Manipur
Kingdom.
The ancestors of Muslim settled down in Manipur are Mughals,
Turks, Iranian, Arabs and Afghan etc.This is the History about How did Muslim
reach Manipur from the beginning.
Translated from the Book,’Turko Afghan gi Chada Naoda’ by
Kheiruddin Khullakpam.
