Haodijam Chaitanya

Haodijam Chaitanya , also known as Haodijamba Chaitanya , or Haodeijamba Chaitanya Singha, was an early social and literary reformer from Manipur. He played an important role in social movements, public service, and the early development of printed literature in the Meitei literature (Manipuri language).

Early life

Haodijamba Chaitanya was born as Haodijam Chaitanya Singh in Shillong in 1867. He was the son of Haodijam Gokul Singh, also called Polando Singh, who worked as a syce (horsekeeper) for Col. Kittinge, the Chief Commissioner of Assam, during the rule of Maharaja Chandrakirti Singh. His family title was Haodijam, which led to the form Haodijamba Chaitanya.

Chaitanya studied in a mission school and grew up in a cosmopolitan environment. He became fluent in Bengali, English, and Hindustani, along with his own language. Because of his education and upbringing in a city, he was considered more advanced in outlook than many people of his time.

Description of works

Khamba Thoibigi Warini

This book describes the ideal love story of Khamba and Thoibi. Chaitanya said it was a transliteration of an old text in the indigenous script, but its style and content suggest otherwise. The prose is simple and resembles paraphrased versions commonly sung by professional ballad singers.

The work includes details rarely mentioned elsewhere, such as the marriage of Khamnu (Khamba's elder sister) to Pheirojamba, the birth of their child, and the tragic end of Khamba and Thoibi. Chaitanya also used punctuation and chapter headings, which were largely absent in traditional manuscripts.

Khahi Ngamba

This is a prose version of an original manuscript. Chaitanya showed a good knowledge of Old Manipuri and wrote in a distinct Modern Manipuri style. Apart from small differences—such as the absence of the opening prayer, new names for the king and his men, and the omission of a note about its composition during Maharaja Chandrakirti's time—the content closely follows the original. It was printed by Abdul Raham at the Chronicle Press, Sylhet.

Thakhel Ngamba

This is also a prose version of an original manuscript, with only two important differences. Chaitanya addressed the opening prayer to Hindu gods instead of Meitei deities and the king, and he omitted the part where King Garibniwaj takes a new name after conquering Samsok in Burma. It was printed by Charuchandra Ghosh at the Chronicle Press, Sylhet.

Chingthangkhomba

Chaitanya's last published work retells the life story of the Meitei king Chingthangkhomba. It includes episodes such as:

the Moirang king's demand for land

the Burmese invasion supported by the Moirang king

the capture of princes Labyanachandra and Modhuchandra

Chingthangkhomba's stay at the Assamese court

his taming of a wild elephant

his return to Manipur after defeating the Burmese

the death of his maternal uncle

the installation of the idol of Sri Krishna after a divine command in a dream

The language includes some Bengali words and shows Bengali influence in spelling. Even so, Chaitanya's works mark an important stage in the development of Manipuri prose and show the growth of Modern Manipuri.