Koireng Tribe

The Koirengs (Korens) are sparsely scattered around the surrounding foothills of the Imphal valley of Manipur, NE India. The present geographical location of their dwellings include:
*Longa Koireng a.k.a Thanglong Village (17 km),
*Sadu (Tungluong) Koireng (37 km),
*Awang Longa Koireng (27 km),
*Utonglok Koren (27 km) and
*Kamu Koireng (25 km)
*in Senapati District; Tarung (3 km) and Koireng Colony (3 km) in Imphal district (The distance given are from Imphal).

According to 2001 census, the Koireng population in Manipur is 1053.Claims of a bigger population cannot be refuted either.

The term 'Koireng' is a corrupt version of the word, 'Kolren' or 'Koren' which subsequently was termed as "Koireng" by the Meiteis. Korens have some linguistic and cultural affinities with some of the neighbouring tribes such as the Aimols, Purums, Kharams,etc.of Manipur and the Ranglongs, Rangkhols, Bietes, etc. of NC Hills,Assam.

The Koireng Cosmogony myth exists in different versions namely(i) Emerging of two heterogemeses human progenitors from non-human beings and (ii) ancestors believe to have emerged out of the cave, Khur.

According to the first version, in the hoary past when there was no evidence of human beings except the divine beings, on Yeisupn (Earth) two fungus like plants, grew up at Yaolkik and Yaolkak. On seeing these two plants, the divine beings were very much struck with fear; the objects could not be cleft thoroughly.

One was cut deeply in middle and it turned into Tulong (woman) and identified as Roltei while the other was cut in a slanting position thereby producing pointed parts and the very being became Tumong (man) who came to be Known as Rolphul. By their union seven sons were born. They in order of their seniority were:Song, Yei, Teltu, Thamthu, Uirei, Khuonglung and Meriem (or Meriem Mikan) from whom the seven clans of Koireng were born. The clans of Uirei, Thamthu, and Khuonglung are extinct. The Marims and Makans are believed to have imbibed themselves to kindred tribes like Chothes, Aimol, Kharams.

The other version revolves within the faith of emergence of their forefathers out of a cave, according to which they are known as Khurmi (Khur=cave, mi=man). But they could not recount reminiscences about the exact location of the legendary cave.

When they came out of the cave, they encountered a tiger at the mouth and ate them. Neiruong, a man of Song clan wrapping a shawl Pounthal (Poun=cloth, thal=arrows) having patterns resembling the skin of tiger was spared from being eaten up.

Since then, it's believed that members of Song clan are tabooed to eat cat, tiger and tokapa (an animal of cat family) and on the other hand, tiger does not injure them.

Though the exact site remains unknown, Kolram, the eastern land is believed to be somewhere around The Irrawady and Chinwin Basins of Burma. They moved through different regions of Burma from Upper Burma across the Chindwin Basin Hill and then into the Lushai Hills and finally Manipur through Churanchandpur district.

Their historic dominance of the Thangjing Hills was an eyesore to the erstwhile kingdom of Moirang which led to constant aggressions between the two ethnic groups and the ultimate decline of the Koirengs(Source: Cheitharol Kumbaba). Thangjing Is derived from the Koren words, "Thang" = South,"Ching"=hill.

From thence the Korens underwent a diaspora to various parts of Manipur and Northeast India.

References

* http://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Ethnic_Races_Manipur.Ethnic_Races_Sanathong.KOIRENG
* http://www.ethnologue.org/show_lang_family.asp?code=nkd
* Shakespear, J.,1922.Tangkhul Folk Tales and Notes on Some Festivals of the Hill Tribes South of Assam. pp-14
* Shakespear, J.,(1909) The Kuki-Lushai Clans. "The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. Vol. 39 (Jul., 1909), pp. 371-385"
* http://www.khangthar.co.nr