Tangkhul Folk Songs about Sihai Phangrei

Christianity along with western education came to the Tangkhul hills in the late 19th century. Prior to this era, the art of recording history in written form was unknown to the Tangkhuls. In the absence of writing, history was therefore passed on the younger generations mainly through folk songs and partially through stories, some of which became folk lore or epic.  As the Tangkhuls used to be head hunters, most of the folk songs glorify bravery and warfare. However, there are songs about, love, revenge, beautiful places, beauty, death, jubilation, birth, sickness, famine, seasons, etc. The folk songs about Sihai Phangrei is an example of songs about a place composed to pay homage to the majestic hill which even in olden days serves as a major landmark. There are also folk songs that portray Sihai Phangrei as one of the favourite hunting grounds in Tangkhul region, however, today the hillock serves as a favourite picnic and outing spot in Ukhrul district. 
Seikhor
Seikhor is a village located west of Hunphun (Ukhrul) village and is about 15 kilometers from the district headquarter. The following folk song speaks of the dawn of hunting season witnessed on Sihai Phangrei. This song was sung by an old man from Seikhor.

Oh! Ramkachiva (Oh! Every village)
Oh! Lui changtaya (Is engaged in cultivation)
Oh Sihai yaronna (Oh! A handsome youth from Sihai)
Oh! Safa singraya (came along with his hound)
Oh! Safa singraya (Oh! Came with his hound)
Oh! Sihai Phangrei kashungda (Came up till Sihai Phangrei)
Oh! Kaheiririya (Hollering hunting sounds)
Oh! Kazing kumuya (Heralds the turn of season)

Synopsis: When hunters from Sihai come up till Sihai Phangrei with hounds, it announces the dawn of hunting season for other villages. Sihai is famous for hunting in olden days and Sihai Phangrei used to be one of the hottest hunting grounds in Tangkhul region.

Nungshong Khullen
Nungshong Khullen is a village located south east of Hunphun/Ukhrul village. Nungshong is about 14 kilometers south of Sihai Phangrei. This song was sung by a group of elders from the village.

Oh! Sihai Phangreili, haaah (On Sihai Phangrei)

Yah!.. Silui chon rachon chonya.... (I saw footprints of a buffalo)
Oh! Silui chonchi..... haaah  (The buffalo’s footprint)
Yah!... Hop kharei siluina..... haah (is that of a majestic bull)
Oh! Kharei silui chiphangvana....(With full grown horns)
Oh! Iwui silui sangaiya .......... Haaah (I wish to own such a buffalo)

Synopsis: The composer of this folk song (probably from Nungshong) saw the footprints of a wild buffalo on Sihai Phangrei. The footprints being slightly larger than that of normal full grown bulls, he imagined the buffalo to be really enormous with well groomed horns which, he sings would love to own.

Khangkhui Phungdhar
Khangkhui Phungdhar is a village that lies below the foothill of the Majestic Shirui Kashong/Shirui peak on the south side. Sihai Phangrei lies on the north side of the Shirui peak sharing the same hill range with the Kashong. Khangkhui Phungdhar is about 13 kilometers from Sihai Phangrei.

Oh! Ava hongailakli heh (I long/yearn to called mother)

Lunghar na taimatuiya (Lunghar took her away)
Oh! Lunghar raikhuiramma heeh (A head hunter from Lunghar)
Harkho singlo wungramnu (Sacrifice a chicken to know the omen)
Oh! Harkho singlo wungramnu heh (Oh! Sacrifice a chicken)
Avathit kapha vasa (And let’s go to avenge for mother)
Oh! Avathit kapha vasa heh (Let’s go to avenge mother’s dead)
Sihai Phangreili loya (We assembled at Sihai Phangrei)
Oh! Sihai Phangreili loya, heh (Oh! Assembled at Sihai Phangrei)
Ngalengtheina huishongra (A heavy hail storm stopped us from proceeding)

Synopsis: This song narrates a sad story of a son seeking revenge for his mother. A head hunter from Lunghar took away the head of a woman from the village. Knowing that the head hunter was from Lunghar, the villagers led by the son of the victim sacrificed a chicken and trekked towards Lunghar to avenge the dead of the woman. During the days of head hunting, taking woman’s head was considered cowardly as the Tangkhuls believed in fair warfare between men. The pursuers assembled at Sihai Phangrei but could not proceed beyond due to heavy hailstorm.

Oh! Iwo leishishunnei (Oh! I love a lot)

Sihai Phangreili shok-kahang akha (Hearing the hunting cries on Sihai Phangrei)

Oh! Inao khalumli (Oh! My beloved son)

Inao khalumli, Ishi vanaoni (Oh! My beloved son)

Pheikar Kashonglo (Hasten your pace)

Synopsis: This is a hunting song through which a father apparently is teaching his son the art of hunting. The song speaks about the macho hollering sounds made while on a hunt. The father sings about the hollering sounds made on Sihai Phangrei while they were hunting. The last line reminds his son to hasten so as to keep pace with the prey.

Teinem
Teinem is a village located west of Hunphun/Ukhrul. The village is about 36 kilometers from Sihai Phangrei. The following folk song was found sung by an old man from Teinem mentioning  Sihai Phangrei as a landmark.

Oh! Ava hongailala (I long to call mother)
Avazakla matheima (but, I no longer can see her)
Sihai Phangrei shokka (Went up till Sihai Phangrei searching for mother)
Oh Sihai Phangrei shokka, (Went up till Sihai Phangrei)
Ava khamsui leisai  (There I saw mother’s walking stick)
Oh! Ava khamsui leisai (I saw mother’s walking stick)
Oh! Ava khamsui shoksingta chappa. (I wept when I hold my mother’s walking stick)
Lunghar athit khale (She was taken by Lunghar)

Synopsis: This song also is about a head hunter taking away a woman. The victim’s son went searching for her and found the woman’s walking stick on Sihai Phangrei.

Ukhrul/Hunphun
Lungharna tengkatuiya (Lunghar captured my mother)
Ava thitla phazat (I went to avenge mother)
Sihai Phangrei vashung (reached Sihai Phangrei)
Ava khamsui leisaya (There I saw mother’s walking stick)
Sysnopsis: This song is also about finding his mother’s walking stick on Sihai Phangrei.

Hunphun/Ukhrul:
Ava hongaireoreo
Ava thitli phavai
Sihai Phangrei vashunga
Sihai Phangrei vashung
Ava khamsui leisaya
Ava khamsui leisa
Kathi Lungharna rungkachuiya

Hunphun/Ukhrul
Ava hongaireoreo (I long so much to call mother)
Ava kathi Lungharna tingkatui (Mother was captured and killed by Lunghar)
Oh! Lungharna tingkatui (Oh! Someone from Lunghar killed her
Avathit phavai (I marched to avenge her dead)
Oh! Sihai Phangrei vashung (reached Sihai Phangrei)
Ava khamsui (My mom’s walking stick)
Oh! Ava khamsui leisai (Oh
Ava khamsui vasingkhui
Charana horamma
Synopsis: This song is also about finding his mother’s walking stick on Sihai Phangrei

Tangkhul Folk Songs about Sihai Phangrei

Christianity and western education came to the Tangkhul hills in the late 19th century. Prior to this era, the art of recording history in written form was unknown to the Tangkhuls. In the absence of writing, history was therefore passed on the younger generations mainly through folk songs and partially through stories, some of which became folk lore or epic.  As the Tangkhuls used to be head hunters, most of the folk songs glorify bravery and warfare. However, there are songs about, love, revenge, beautiful places, beauty, death, jubilation, birth, seasons, etc. The folk songs about Sihai Phangrei is an example of songs about a place composed to pay homage to the majestic hill which even in olden days serves as a major landmark. There are also folk songs that portray Sihai Phangrei as one of the favourite hunting grounds in Tangkhul region, however, today the hillock serves as a favourite picnic and outing spot in Ukhrul district. 
Seikhor
Seikhor is a village located west of Hunphun (Ukhrul) village and is about 15 kilometers from the district headquarter. The following folk song speaks of the dawn of hunting season witnessed on Sihai Phangrei. This song was sung by an old man from Seikhor.

Oh! Ramkachiva (Oh! Every village)
Oh! Lui changtaya (Is engaged in cultivation)
Oh Sihai yaronna (Oh! A handsome youth from Sihai)
Oh! Safa singraya (came along with his hound)
Oh! Safa singraya (Oh! Came with his hound)
Oh! Sihai Phangrei kashungda (Came up till Sihai Phangrei)
Oh! Kaheiririya (Hollering hunting sounds)
Oh! Kazing kumuya (Heralds the turn of season)

Synopsis: When hunters from Sihai come up till Sihai Phangrei with hounds, it announces the dawn of hunting season for other villages. Sihai is famous for hunting in olden days and Sihai Phangrei used to be one of the hottest hunting grounds in Tangkhul region.

Nungshong Khullen
Nungshong Khullen is a village located south east of Hunphun/Ukhrul village. Nungshong is about 14 kilometers south of Sihai Phangrei. This song was sung by a group of elders from the village.

Oh! Sihai Phangreili, haaah (On Sihai Phangrei)

Yah!.. Silui chon rachon chonya.... (I saw footprints of a buffalo)
Oh! Silui chonchi..... haaah  (The buffalo’s footprint)
Yah!... Hop kharei siluina..... haah (is that of a majestic bull)
Oh! Kharei silui chiphangvana....(With full grown horns)
Oh! Iwui silui sangaiya .......... Haaah (I wish to own such a buffalo)

Synopsis: The composer of this folk song (probably from Nungshong) saw the footprints of a wild buffalo on Sihai Phangrei. The footprints being slightly larger than that of normal full grown bulls, he imagined the buffalo to be really enormous with well groomed horns which, he sings would love to own.

Khangkhui Phungdhar
Khangkhui Phungdhar is a village that lies below the foothill of the Majestic Shirui Kashong/Shirui peak on the south side. Sihai Phangrei lies on the north side of the Shirui peak sharing the same hill range with the Kashong. Khangkhui Phungdhar is about 13 kilometers from Sihai Phangrei.

Oh! Ava hongailakli heh (I long/yearn to called mother)

Lunghar na taimatuiya (Lunghar took her away)
Oh! Lunghar raikhuiramma heeh (A head hunter from Lunghar)
Harkho singlo wungramnu (Sacrifice a chicken to know the omen)
Oh! Harkho singlo wungramnu heh (Oh! Sacrifice a chicken)
Avathit kapha vasa (And let’s go to avenge for mother)
Oh! Avathit kapha vasa heh (Let’s go to avenge mother’s dead)
Sihai Phangreili loya (We assembled at Sihai Phangrei)
Oh! Sihai Phangreili loya, heh (Oh! Assembled at Sihai Phangrei)
Ngalengtheina huishongra (A heavy hail storm stopped us from advancing)

Synopsis: This song narrates a sad story of a son seeking revenge for his mother. A head hunter from Lunghar took away the head of a woman from the village. Knowing that the head hunter was from Lunghar, the villagers led by the son of the victim sacrificed a chicken and trekked towards Lunghar to avenge the dead of the woman. During the days of head hunting, taking woman’s head was considered cowardly as the Tangkhuls believed in fair warfare between men. The pursuers assembled at Sihai Phangrei but could not proceed beyond due to heavy hailstorm.

Teinem
Teinem is a village located west of Hunphun/Ukhrul. The village is about 36 kilometers from Sihai Phangrei. The following folk song was found sung by an old man from Teinem mentioning  Sihai Phangrei as a landmark.

Oh! Ava hongailala (I long to call mother)
Avazakla matheima (but, I no longer can see her)
Sihai Phangrei shokka (Went up till Sihai Phangrei searching for mother)
Oh Sihai Phangrei shokka, (Went up till Sihai Phangrei)
Ava khamsui leisai  (There I saw mother’s walking stick)
Oh! Ava khamsui leisai (I saw mother’s walking stick)
Oh! Ava khamsui shoksingta chappa. (I wept when I hold my mother’s walking stick)
Lunghar athit khale (She was taken by Lunghar)

Synopsis: This song also is about a head hunter taking away a woman. The victim’s son went searching for her and found the woman’s walking stick on Sihai Phangrei.

Ukhrul/Hunphun
Lungharna tengkatuiya (Lunghar captured my mother)
Ava thitla phazat (I went to avenge mother)
Sihai Phangrei vashung (reached Sihai Phangrei)
Ava khamsui leisaya (There I saw mother’s walking stick)
Sysnopsis: This song is also about finding his mother’s walking stick on Sihai Phangrei.

Hunphun/Ukhrul:
Ava hongaireoreo
Ava thitli phavai
Sihai Phangrei vashunga
Sihai Phangrei vashung
Ava khamsui leisaya
Ava khamsui leisa
Kathi Lungharna rungkachuiya

Hunphun/Ukhrul
Ava hongaireoreo (I long so much to call mother)
Ava kathi Lungharna tingkatui (Mother was captured and killed by Lunghar)
Oh! Lungharna tingkatui (Oh! Someone from Lunghar killed her
Avathit phavai (I marched to avenge her dead)
Oh! Sihai Phangrei vashung (reached Sihai Phangrei)
Ava khamsui (My mom’s walking stick)
Oh! Ava khamsui leisai (Oh
Ava khamsui vashingkhui
Charana horamma
Synopsis: This song is also about finding his mother’s walking stick on Sihai Phangrei

Sihai Phangrei Water Immersion Verdict

The Tangkhuls of yore revered land/soil as sacred and choose not to get into dispute with their neighbours even in provoking instances. Land according to them is older than man. In most cases, people then used to be reluctant to get involved in lawsuits related to land. As a result there were very few land disputes in olden day. However, there were exceptional cases where none of the contending party chooses to relent and the dispute ends with an extreme form of swearing.  For land dispute, the last resort of deciding the case when all means are exhausted was to either eat a handful of soil from the disputed land or to immerse in water.  In the previous case, the guilty one is believed to die within the year of swearing/eating the soil. In the latter case, the guilty one remains afloat while the righteous one comfortably remains underwater. The ordeal is witnessed by the whole village/villages as witness. 

Sihai Phangrei is a long hill range, one of the favourite picnic spots in Ukhrul district. The hill range which has some chromites deposit in addition to its natural beauty used to be a bone of contention between Sihai village and Lunghar as the hill range was claimed both by Sihai and Lunghar as their own. The dispute first came to light in the 1960s and since then, the two villages had been involved in numerous lawsuits both in traditional courts and government courts. In 2008, the two villages accepted the proposal to perform the water immersion test suggested by the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM). Considering this to be the best way to ward off all future contentions, people from the two village, public leaders, people from all over Tangkhul Villages assembled at Nungshong River on the 16th of October 2008 to watch the chiefs of Lunghar and Sihai take the water immersion test. Based on the test, Sihai village was declared the victor. With the announcement of the verdict, Sihai village was confirmed to be the rightful owner of the hill range which from time immemorial had been dearly called Sihai Phangrei.

*** When everything seem to be a failure, the ways of our forefathers can still guide us through.

Allied Force Bomber Plane Crash on Sihai Phangrei

The whole village heard the loud flapping wings of the giant bird and ran out to ascertain its actual size. Everyone must have thought the world was coming to an abrupt end on seeing the weird looking bird. Even the best hunters in the village haven’t seen a bird of that size though it was still gliding very high to make a fair judgment about its actual size. When it started swooping down very fast with the sound of the wings getting unnaturally loud, people started screaming fearing the whole village would be eaten up by the strange bird.

Only some stood their ground staying where they were, and I was one among the mesmerized few who choose not to budge thinking that it indeed was a very weird and huge bird when it was just about three hundred feet above. The appearance of the bird as expected was considered a bad bad omen. Luckily, no one was carried away as the bird simply passed over the village and glided up high again in the air. Someone shouted, ‘look the bird is wounded’ seeing the smoke coming out of the bird's wings and tail.

The elders suggested some of us should follow the bird and find out where it is headed and where it is going to perch on. Most of us knew that the bird won’t fly far as it seem to be wounded badly as it looked like it got singed in a wild mountain fire.

Before we all were able to decide what to do next, there was a very loud sound of thunder. It was very strange, stranger than the appearance of huge bird, as the sky was very clear with no streaks of cloud visible. On a hillock, not far from the village smoke started rising and then fire broke creating a bonfire off the huge bird. Someone in the crowd shouted again, ‘that’s where the big bird went down.’

The whole village ran to the spot forgetting the initial fear. Lo, we saw a burnt featherless bird with a charred human body inside. Everyone assumed the person inside could have been picked up from some village to be eaten by the giant bird. Yeah, it took us years to know that the huge bird was called a bomber plane and the man inside was the pilot. I, out of shock who suggested the plane could be a bird later on become the laughing stock in the village. No hard feelings; ignorance indeed is both a bliss and a joke.

We buried the pilot, dismantled the plane and divided its parts and brought them home as souvenirs. I got a sturdy metal pipe that I use as straw to sip rice beer later in life. Maybe, I was given that small pipe assuming I won’t complain being one of the youngest in the group. However, I feel fortunate as the pipe become so meaningful to me when I grew up. Others who got bigger pieces never found the utility value of their artifacts.

This is about what happened in 1944: The time when both Japanese bomber planes and planes of the Allied Forces pop up in the Naga Hills. Two planes crashed at the foot of Sihai Phangrei Hillock very close to Sihai Khullen Village, my birthplace. Silly as it may sound to you, my children and grand children are called "children of big bird" because I blurted out the bomber plane could be a bird.

Note: This is what my grandpa would have blogged if blogging was a fashion during his times. I dedicate this post to my late grandpa.