Meitei Pangals

This article is about Manipur's ethnic minority. For other uses, see Meitei Pangals (disambiguation).

Pangal

Regions with significant populations
India	250,000
Bangladesh	23,000
Related ethnic groups
Meitei, Bengali

The Pangals, also pronounced as Pangans are the minority ethnic group of people reside in Northeast India (Manipur, Assam, Tripura and Nagaland) and also found in Bangladesh. Pangals are also known as Miah Meitei (Meetei) or Manipuri Muslim.

History

Manipur is an ancient kingdom; its first historical king was Nongda Lairen Pakhangba of 33-154 AD. Muslims of Manipur are historically called Pangal or Meitei-Pangal which derives from "Pang" which was a Tai cognate tribe, although it may derive from "Bangal", from where they came in the early seventh century.¹ The word “Bangal” (“Bengal”) itself was coined from “Bang” by adding the suffix ‘al’, but the terms “Pang” and “Pangal” existed in Manipur (formerly Poirei or Meitrabak or Mekhli/Mughlai or Kathe) since the seventh century. “Pangal” simply means “Manipuri Muslims”, as they follow Islam. They are also known as Meitei Pangal indicating the extent of acculturation and assimilation with the Meitei culture.

Population

Their present population is 190,939, making up 8.32% of the state (Manipur) population as per 2001 census. The Pangal are mainly concentrated in and around Imphal, the capital of Manipur. There is large number of pangals live in Cachar in Assam, Hojai in Assam, Komolpur in Tripura and Bangladesh. It is believed that the ancestors of the pangals settled in this region are migrated from Manipur during the seven years devastation also known as Chahi taret khuntakpa, the black period in the history of Manipur when Burmese captured Manipur around 1815 AD.

Family titles

Today there are up to 77 Muslim family title names (Shaqzi). They are an indigenous and peace-loving community. Traditional dress for men is Lungis and pajamas, and for women is Fanek and Shalwar. Both also wear western attire. They are proud and very conscious of their Islamic identity.

Stratification

According to British writers, Manipuri Muslims (Pangals) were divided into four groups or clans- Shaikh, Syed, Mughal (Chaghtai Turks) and Pathan (Afghans) which have been further subdivided into 77 sub-clans or family titles.

See also

• Hui Legends of The Companions of The Prophet, China Heritage,20 Sep 2010, www.chinaheritagenewsletter.org/article.
• For early Meitei-Arab, Meitei-Mughal connection, see Thang Ta: A journey (Through the history of Kangleipak) from an ancient combat art to a popular modern sport- Part 4 by By Dr.HanjabamCha Barun (http://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?rc=leisure. Sports.Martial_ Arts.Thang_Ta_A_ journey_4).
• For Muslim settlement since 7th century see History Of Migration In the Valley Of Manipur by Dr. Oinam Ranjit Singh (www.dbcmaram.org/seminar/Dr.%20O.%20Ranjit%20Singh.pdf).
• e-pao.net (Manipuri_Muslims_Socially_Speaking...manipur)
• www.e-pao.net › manipur (Evolution of Clan System Among Manipuri Muslims)
• Manipur, Wikipedia
• Muslims of Manipur, Wikipedia
• Manipuri Muslims: Socially Speaking

References

1. Salam Irene, 2010, The Muslims of Manipur, Kalpaz: New Delhi, pp. 22, 31.
2. A. Hakim Shah, 2008, The Manipur Governance to Meitei-Pangal during 1606-1949, Pearl: Imphal, p. 29.
3. Salam Irene, pp. 31-32.
4. www.e-pao.net/epSubPageSelector.asp%3; Sa'ad ibn abi Waqqas- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; Hui Legends of The Companions of The Prophet, China Heritage,20 Sep 2010, www.chinaheritagenewsletter.org/article.
5. Farooque Ahmed, Silk Route Trade and Manipuri Muslims, in South Asia Politics, vol. 7, April 2009, New Delhi, p. 21.
6. See for Nasir Muhammad of Sarail (N.R. Roychoudhury, 1983, Tripura Through the Ages, New Delhi: Sterling Publishers, p. 29).
7. Dr. O. Ranjit Singh, History Of Migration In the Valley Of Manipur (www.dbcmaram.org/seminar/Dr.%20O.%20Ranjit%20Singh.pdf).
8. John Peter Wade, 1800/1927 ed. by Benudhar Sharma, An Account of Assam, Sibsagar, p. 297.
9. Dr. O. Ranjit Singh (gives the name in distortion as Milaya Shek).
10. Kheiruddin Khullakpam, 1997, Turko-Afghangi Chada Naoda (Descendants of Turko-Afghans, Circles: Lilong-Manipur, pp. 14-15.
11. Suhas Chatterjee, 2000, Socio Economic History of South Assam, Jaipur, p. 128; Salam Irene, p. 32.
12. Janab Khan, pp.53, 54.
13. Ibid, p. 64.
14. South Asia Politics, op. cit, vol.9, Nov. 2010, p.23.
15. Kheiruddin Khullakpam, 1997, Turko-Afghangi Chada Naoda, p.161.
16. Suhas Chatterjee, 2000, A Socio Economic History of South Assam, Jaipur: Printwell, p. 121.
17. Ibid.
18. L.I. Singh & N. Khelchandra, 1989, Cheitharol Kumbaba, Imphal: Manipur Sahitya Parishad, p. 45.
19. Deb Barma Samarendra Chandra, 1927, Tripurar Smriti, pp.209-10; N.R. Roychoudhury, 1983, Tripura Through the Ages, New Delhi: Sterling Publishers, pp. 28-29.(The letter was written originally in Persian and is translated from Bengali rendering).
20. N.R. Roychoudhury, p. 27.
21. Ibid, pp. 28, 29 ft. 1 (quoting the original letter in Deb Barma Samarendra Chandra, 1927, Tripurar Smriti, pp. 209-10); S.C. Dutta, 1984, The North East and the Mughals, Calcutta, p. 41. (According to traditions in Tripura, Govinda Manikya after losing throne to Nakshatra Roy, also fled to Arakan where he met Shah Shuja who presented the former a precious sword and a diamond, and thus friendship was established. It must be after this event, if the tradition is true, in around 1660 that Shuja made way for Tripura).
22. A. Hakim Shah, p. 56.
23. Dr. J. P. Wade, p. 297.
24. South Asia Politics, op. cit, vol.9, Nov. 2010, p.23.
25. R.K. Sanahal Singh, 1983, Pangal Thorkapa, Liberty Publication: Imphal, p. 43; O. Bhogeswor Singh & Janab Khan, 1973, Nongsamei Puya, Imphal, p. 92 (give the names of Mughal princes arriving from Makak/Mughal NE India in 1679 as Sunarphul and Lakhayerphul following Manipuri historiography).
26. L.I. Singh & Khelchandra, 1989, Cheitharol Kumbaba, p.36.
27. Nongchupharam (ms.)
28. Dr. N. Debendra Singh, 2005, Identities of Migrated People, Manipur University: Centre for Manipuri studies, pp. 45, 47.
29. L.I.Singh & Khelchandra,Cheitharol Kumbaba, p. 35.
30. O. Bhogeswor & Janab Khan, Nongsamei Puya, p. 100.
31. B. Kulachandra Sharma, 1997, Meitrabakki Khunthok Khundarol, Imphal, pp. 114-15; B. Kulachandra & Dr. Badr-uddin, 1992, Meitei Pangal Hourakpham, Imphal, pp. 15-143; Kh. Kheiruddin, 1997, op. cit., pp. 140-199; Salam Irene, pp. 90-91; Field-work survey.
32. Salam Irene, p. 221.

Links literature in Meitei/Pangal Language

• Seirangba Marup, the Yahoo Group of Manipuri Art and Literature

External links

• Muslims in Manipur: A look at their socio-economic condition - TCN News
• How Muslims came to be in Manipur