Khamba Thoibi, A Retelling by Mr. Byron Aihara

From the book's preface. The story known as Khamba Thoibi is, according to the people of Manipur, the cultural epic of the land. The original storytellers of Khamba Thoibi are unknown. Its mythology says the events were the creation of Thangjing, the ruling deity of Moirang. The characters are believed to be based on actual people who lived about 500 to 600 years ago. The epic unfolds in the age before the advent of Vaishnavism in the Kingdom of Moirang and the Meitei in Manipur. The Pena Khongba and troubadours repeatedly refer to the indigenous deity Thangjing as the author. My interest in the Khamba Thoibi began in 2013, after I first came to Manipur in the Northeast of India. I began writing this book in isolation during 2020, at the onset of the global pandemic, and became engrossed in every level and aspect of completing this English-language retelling. The illustrations and photographs are mine. as well as the InDesign layouts. I have a large photograph hanging over my work desk of my teacher and mentor, Padma Shree Oja Khangembam Mangi. I took it myself. His presence literally watches me. I am most indebted to Oja Mangi, who showed and taught me so much about the Pena Khongba’s life, and Khamba Thoibi. During my research, when I lived in Manipur for extended periods from 2013 to 2018, I actively sought out pena and folk musicians. I also attended live performances by the pena khongba themselves, including the last great master artistes of Khamba Thoibi in Pena Phamshak (pena’s sitting theatrical performance style), who are no longer with us. Including Oja Mangi, Oja Leibakmacha, Oja Moirang Achouba, and Oja Sinam Achouba. These were the last of the legends who lived through the era of troubador-style pena musicianship. It is a form of performance art that, like many things from the first half of the 20th Century, no longer exists in its authentic form, and has evolved to new styles. Read more