The Kohima Stone or Gambhir Singh's Stone is monument, erected by Meitei King Gambhir Singh (Chinglen Nongdrenkhomba) of Manipur (princely state) in Kohima, the capital of Nagaland. It was erected in 1833 as a mark of Manipuri conquest of the Naga Hills in 1832. It is inscribed in sanskritised Manipuri (Meitei) in Bengali-Assamese script. Manipuri King Gambhir Singh and the powerful Manipuri Levy conquered the whole of the Naga Hills. The stone was erected after his final defeat of the Angami peoples of Kohimathat.[1][2][3][4][5]
| Kohima Stone Inscription | |
|---|---|
| (Meitei: Kohima Khut-ee Nungpak) | |
 The Kohima Stone erected by Raja Gambhir Singh (Chinglen Nongdrenkhomba) of Manipur. | |
| Writing | Sanskritised Meitei language (in Bengali-Assamese script) |
| Symbols | Kanglasha (dragon lion), a bull and the footprints of Gambhir Singh |
| Created | 1833 AD |
| Discovered | Kohima, Nagaland |
| Present location | Nagaland State Museum, Kohima, Nagaland |
| Culture | Meitei culture |
History edit
Manipuri influence over the Naga ethnic groups declined during the period before and after the Burmese war of 1819–25. However, it was re-asserted by Gambhir Singh. At Kohima, he stood on a flat stone and had his footprints sculpted on it as a token of conquest. Kohima and its surrounding villages were the boundaries of Manipur.[2][3][4]
The stone is frequently mentioned in land laws and orders announced by the later British government of the Naga Hills. [6]
References edit
- ^ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-853-2. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ a b Sinha (Brigadier.), S. P. (2007). Lost Opportunities: 50 Years of Insurgency in the North-east and India's Response. Lancer Publishers. ISBN 978-81-7062-162-1. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ a b Singh, Dr Th Suresh (2 June 2014). The Endless Kabaw Valley: British Created Visious Cycle of Manipur, Burma and India. Quills Ink Publishing. ISBN 978-93-84318-00-0. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ a b Johnstone, James (23 May 2018). My Experiences in Manipur and the Naga Hills. BoD – Books on Demand. ISBN 978-3-7326-9966-7. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ Meitei, Sanjenbam Yaiphaba; Chaudhuri, Sarit K.; Arunkumar, M. C. (25 November 2020). The Cultural Heritage of Manipur. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-000-29637-2. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ Sharma, Suresh K. (2006). Documents on North-East India: Nagaland. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-8324-095-6. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.