WAR OF CHALLENGES
#There are five wars in Naga customary, General war, Secret War, War of Challenges, Clan War, and War of Hostages.
LONGPI MARINGTHEI & NGARI KAPANG
Some 300 years ago, in a
village in the North of Ukhrul District, Tangkhul noted for its hospitality, the certain famous warrior called Kapang (Kapungo) of Angari Village of Mao – Maram
area participated in the famous Paoyi Langchin (Paoyi Village Festival) during
Luira Phanit (Sowing Festival).
In Tangkhul Luira Festival,
Wrestling is a major, important game. In this wrestling competition, there was nobody
to match Kapang of Ngari. Before the eyes of all the public, Kapang therefore,
challenges Luivao, the chief of Longpi Village for wrestling although he was no
match for him. Unable to bear the insult, the Longpi Chief quietly left the
same evening and called his friend, the famous warrior of Longpi called
Maringthei. To save the prestige of the chief of his village who also happened
to his bosom friend, Maringthei agreed and left the same night for paoyi
village with Luivao (chief).
In the morning, Kapang
shouted again at the house of Chief of the Southern Khel of that village, The A host of Luivao and Maringthei.
Kapang – “Come out and tell
me, Why are you afraid? Are you not the chief of Longpi?”
Luivao – “Go and eat. This
small one (Maringthei) will stand for me”. The village chief then announced
publicly that all should come and see the wrestling competition between Kapang of
Ngari and Maringthei of Longpi.
In physical appearance,
Maringthei although robust and in excellent health was no match for the huge
structure of Kapang. Step by step the two warriors came closer and closer keeping
the public in suspense. No sooner they caught hold of each other than Kapang
carried him away to throw him against the stone wall (i.e. the Naga wall where
stones pile up one another). However, just before Kapang took the position,
Maringthei applied his leg tactics and the giant was down. Everyone shouted in
surprise. The furious Kapang quickly rushed to the center again whereas the
noble Maringthei majestically walked down to the center of the field for the
second round. The moment they caught hold of each other again, Maringthei was
once again in the air. This time Kapang carried him fast to throw him down the
steep stone wall. Maringthei struggled hard and again applied another leg
tactic and before Kapang could throw him down, Maringthei was at the top of
the fallen giant. Everyone was stuck with wonder.
Kapang wanted to repeat the wrestling;
however, the village Authority (councilor) intervened and stopped Kapang
because wrestling competition according to Tangkhul custom could not be
repeated beyond two rounds.
Red with shame, Kapang again
threw a challenge to Maringthei. This time, for spear throwing and catching
competition. The latter agreed readily. Then, the public knew that it was no
longer a game, it was going to be a deadly match. For the warriors, however, it
was still a lively game though dangerous. The Authority entered the field and
marked the lines six steps (about 1 and a half Feet per step) away from the
circle. Six is the customary number for men and five for women in Naga
dealings.
The catcher in a small circle
of a fathom radius and the thrower about 8 to 10 feet away from the circle, it
was an indeed deadly challenge. Who will be the first to throw? That was the
question that attracted the attention of the tense public. The distance was too
small and one was sure to die. Both of them bargained to be the first thrower,
there was no end to the arguments to be the first thrower. The sun was
advancing and the public became restless.
Shouted Maringthei “Thangkha
phara thangkha thi. Phakhalappa thi tharashi” – Born one day and die one day.
The Coward dies ten times. I permit you, itao Kapang, to be the first, however, shouted
Maringthei, then the host and Luivao vehemently intervened and refused to make
their man the first catcher. “What I have said is final, I honor my word”,
said Maringthei. Thus the anger of Luivao and their host melted away.
With terrible war whoops and
war dance, Kapang threatened and pointed the spear t the target, turned away
and then rushing back like a roaring lion, he threatened to kill him so that he
might he be psychologically demoralized while repeating the war dance and war
tactics of rushing and turning away and again rushing back, suddenly Kapang
with all his force threw the spear at the target. He was sure that his opponent
would go down. To the surprise of all, however, in the twinkling of the eyes, the
spear was in the hand of Maringthei. “He is not a man, he is god’s shouted the
public and they sang the song in praise of Maringthei of Longpi which remain
even today.
Not satisfied with this
defeat, Kapang again threw another challenge that they should make certain
marks in their paddy fields giving chance to each other to make a surprise
attacks at the time of paddy cultivation, so far away 3 to 4 days journey and
yet so near for the adventure of warriors.
One rainy day, when
Maringthei was in the paddy field, Kapang was surveying for a surprise attack.
Smelling Kapang’s maneuver, Maringthei shouted at the top of his voice saying,
“Come all, come quickly, the enemy is at hand” as Kapang was not aware of the trick
of Maringthei, he left quietly and never came back.
Then, it was the turn of
Maringthei to surprise Kapang when he would come to the paddy field for scaring
Kapang when he would come to the paddy field for scaring away birds from the
rice paddy fields. From the prominent white mark of Khamkhui thing (Rhus trees,
family), they could easily locate the field of Kapang. They waited for the
night to come watching the movement of Kapang. At the right time of the night,
they searched and searched everywhere but not a sign of life except the noisy
songs of the frogs and the roaring waters which flowed from terraced field to
another. An idea struck Maringthei’s mind and he closes all the channels of the
following water. To their surprise, Kapang was snoring in a deep hole dug out
by himself under the noisy waterfalls of the paddy field. It was a clever
device to hide his snoring and to mislead his enemies, but Maringthei was cleverer
than him.
Maringthei – Itao (Friend)
get up. Look at the full moon. Do you remember paoyi Langchin.?
Kapang – Itao, Is that you?
Maringthei – Will you come
out or shall I come in?
Kapang – Why should I come
out and why should you come in “? (After realizing that his spear has already
been taken)
Maringthei then suddenly
pounced upon him. There was a terrible fight hand to hand, inside the small cave
with Luivao. Watching the game and supplying ropes to Maringthei for binding
the hands of Kapang. Although his hands were carefully tied with strong ropes,
Kapang gave a hard kick and Luivao was flat in the paddy field. “oh, my paddy field is gone, what will my children et”? Said Kapang laughing at Luivao.
Maringthei got enraged and caught hold of Kapang and threw in the muddy rice field
destroying more paddies.
“Kill him, Kill him,” said
Luivao
Maringthei – “I will take him
alive to my house so that he may look after the paddies basked in the sun
against the chicken”. There was no greater insult than to a warrior. Before
Kapang could do further harm, they removed his eyes and led him away. They were
too tired and spent the night in the Jungle. When the two were having deep
sleep, Kapang slowly moved to the fire and got the ropes burned and then rolled
himself quietly, and found out the spear of Luivao as Maringthei was sleeping
on the tree. From the breathing sound of Luivao, it was not difficult for
Kapang to locate him. The last blow of a warrior like that of Samson was
terrible and the spear was through the chest of Luivao. Hearing the terrible
cry, Maringthei rushed only to find that his bosom friend was gone.
“Now, I have taken one more
to carry my luggage in Kazeiram (land of Dead). I have done my last duty. Now you
may do with me whatever you want to do” roared Kapang. Maringthei had no time
to wait. He cut the flesh and bones of his enemy into pieces and threw away to
all directions saying – Oh shiri shira nathum wui vangkho.! (Oh birds and animals,
it is for you)
However, the war of challenge
did not end here; Maringthei repeatedly raided the house and the paddy field of
the children of Kapang in order to avenge the killing of Luivao. After finishing
the four sons, the last daughter came to look after the paddy against the
invading birds. Fearing that Maringthei could be anywhere anytime she sang a
song of praise for Him.
“Oh Longpi Maringthei,
Maingtheiwo,
Phakachangli nawui sarai
mirai Kapha,
Ishava nawui raithat ngasahao”
(Oh Maringthei, of Longpi.!
How excellent is your way of hunting the enemies;
My father was fallen in your
hand”
On hearing the song
Maringthei suddenly rushed out from the bush and said “My daughter, do not be
afraid, if you go sing that song in your village, I will spare your life; and
if you fail to sing that song, then your head is off”. The song remains but
Maringthei never visited that place again from that day on. History never until
the end of the Hero.
Rachai Village one of the
salt manufacturing centers in the North of Ukhrul was one time saved form a
terrible man-eater by Maringthei and in gratitude, Maringthei received a basket
of salt every year from that village. Aging doesn’t spare even the warriors,
and the Maringthei had become very old by then. As the last adventure,
Maringthei visited Rachai for collecting the annual tribute of salt.
Instigated by some elders of
the village, a boy offered himself to go with him as his servant. “Yes, yes,
you may come with me and look after my buffaloes”, said Maringthei.
After crossing the village
gate, the boy said “Uncle I want to ease myself, you please go ahead”. No
sooner than the old man with a heavy load of salt took the lead, the boy
calling Kapang’s name speared him through the chest and the hero was down and so
was the end of an era of a hero whose name chilled the spines of Man, women, and
children.
This boy, the grandson of
Kapang, son of the last daughter who saved herself by singing a clever song in
praise of Maringthei. She died before her son grown up but he was adopted by
his uncle at Rachai village.
