Chapter Name: History and its sources
Subject: Social Science
Lesson: 8
Class: 6
Board: Board Of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM/BSEM)
Contents: Chapter, Questions and Answers, Important points to Remember.
Table of Contents
Chapter 8: History and its sources
Meaning of History
N Tomba read to one of his granddaughters, the story of the kings of Manipur from one of the Puyas. Graceson, tells a group of young Zeliangs, about the finding of human settlements in the Tharon caves of Tamenglong in the early days. The superintendent of archaeology of Manipur shows the monuments of Kangla to a group of class vi students. He tells them that in the early days, Kangla was the seat of the kings of Manipur.
N Tomba, Graceson, and the superintendent of archaeology all give an account of the past Manipur. This study of the past is called history.
Time frame under study
N Tomba, Graceson, and the superintendent of archaeology are all also of the past Manipur that occurred in a particular period.
In the early period, men often took shelter in trees, caves, etc. The early men often draw on the walls of the caves. From their drawing on the wall of caves, one can get a good idea of man’s past. Then man came to know how to write. In the early days, they wrote on the dried palm, birch barks, etc. They wrote about the reign of the kings, the social and economic system of the period, etc.
Gradually, the state came to be ruled by the kings. Many kings often built many forts, minted coins, built many buildings, etc. From the forts, coins, and buildings, one can also know about the reign of the kings.
Similarly, Indian history can also be known by studying written, archaeological sources, numismatic sources, etc. From here one can know that history is also the record of man’s life in different periods.
Geographical framework
From the experience of the students with Graceson and the superintendent of archaeology, the past of every society can be studied. One can know of the past by visiting pre-historic caves, monuments, etc. we can know some of the past Manipur by visiting Tharon cave in Tamenlong or Meizalung in Somsai in Ukhrul, by a visit to Kangla, etc.
Meizailung
Meizailung is an account of the migration of the Tangkhul. “Mei means fire”, ‘zai” strike, and ‘lung’ stone. Today the spot referred to is within the Assam Rifle complex at Somsai in Ukhrul.
It is believed that long ago Tangkhuls came from Samsok of Kabow Valley. They gathered at Meizailung and lit their torch, from Meizailung they moved towards different directions.
History and its sources
The accounts of the past told by N. Tomba, Graceson and the superintendent of archaeology differ from one another. One is told from the written source, another from prehistoric, and the other from the monument of the past. Likewise, there are various sources of history. Broadly, it can be classified into – literary sources, archaeological sources, and oral sources.
Literary Sources
As mentioned earlier, N, Tomba told the history of Manipur from what is written in a book. In the early days, historical sources were written on dried palm leaves, birch barks, parchment, and later on paper. This type of history written on dried palm leaves, birch barks, parchment, and later on paper is known as a literary sources
From the story told by N. Tomba, one can know that the past is available in written sources. Some of the important sources written in Manipuri are the Cheitharol Kumbaba, Ningthourol Kumbaba, Moirang Ningthourol Lambuba, Loyumba Shilyen, etc.
The Cheitharol Khumbaba is a royal diary of the kings of Manipur. Among others, this book deals with the reign of the kings of Manipur, the welfare works taken by the kings, etc. It starts in 33 AD. From the year when Meidingu Nongda Lairen Pakhangba became the king to 1955 AD, the last day of Bodhachandra. Ningthourol Kumbaba is another diary of the kings of Manipur. Moirang Ningthourol Lambuba is a diary of the Moirang Kings.
Many historical accounts of ancient India are found in literary sources. Important ones among them are the Vedic Literature, the epics, the Jainas and the Buddhist texts, the works of Kalidasa, bhanabatt, Kalhana, etc, and the accounts of foreigners like Menander, Fa-hien, Hieun Tsang, etc.
Archaeological sources
From the account of the past told by Graceson and the superintendent of archaeology, we know that the sources of history can also be obtained from the material remains of the past. This is called archaeology. Many materials such as pottery, fossils, coins, inscriptions, tools, etc., have been found buried under the ground. Through archaeology, we can also learn about man’s past. From the Kangla we know about the kings who ruled in Manipur. From the Tharon cave, we know about the pre-historic past of the man in the Tamenglong district of Manipur. From the archaeological sources, we also know about the ancient civilizations of India like the Indus Valley civilization, the Mauryan Empire, the Edict of Asoka, etc.
The picture in the three boxes shows the material remains of the past. They, however, show the materials of the past in different forms. One sow the material remains of the past through the buildings. Other shows through the coin. Another shows the material remains through the erection of the stone.
Oral history (Folklore, myths and legends)
Very often when you were very young you must have been told a story about a great king or man or woman of your community. Such a story was indeed told to your grandmother by her mother or grandmother. These stories are told from generation to generation. They are known as oral history.
Oral history: the collection and the history of historical information using sound recordings of interviews with people who remember past events.
Folklore, myths, and legends are important sources of history. They are parts of the oral tradition. Folklore consists of the traditional beliefs, stories, and customs of a community. It has been passed on orally from generation to generation.
Myths are often a tale recited in association with a religious ceremony. One of the remarkable myths of Manipur is the obligation of the Willsong stone by the Marams of Manipur in the early period.
Legends are traditional stories commonly regarded as historical. The Puranas are the storehouse of Indian folklore, myths, and legends. Manipur has plenty of myths and legends. Some of the popular ones are Panthoibi Khongul, Khamba thoibi, etc.
Important Points to Remember
👉The study of the past is known as History. Important sources of history are
Literary sources, Archaeological sources and Oral Sources
👉Literary Sources: The type of history written on dry palm leaves, birch barks, parchment, and later on paper are known as literary sources.
👉Some important literary sources of Manipuri are the Cheitharol Kumbaba, Ningthourol Kumbaba, Moirang Ningthourol Lambuba, Loiyumba Shilyen, etc.
👉Important literary-historical accounts of India are Vedic literature, the Epics, the Jainas and the Buddhist texts, the works of Kalidasa, Banabhatt, kalhana, etc. And accounts of the foreigners.
👉Archaeological sources: The study of the past by studying the remains of buildings and objects found in the ground is called archaeology.
👉The material remains such as pottery, fossils, coins, inscription tools, etc., are the archaeological sources.
👉Oral Sources: The collection and study of historical information using sound recordings of interviews with people who remember past events is called Oral history.
👉Folklore, myths, and legends are important sources of oral history.
BOSEM Solutions For The Chapter History and its sources
Access all the solutions for the chapter History and its sources 👇.
Question and Answer (Textbook)
Q1. Why is the account of the past of Tharon Cave told by Graceson known as Prehistory?
Ans: The account of the past of Tharon Cave told by Graceson is known as Prehistory because it does not have written records.
Q2. Name any Oral History of our Community.
Ans: Khamba and Thoibi.
Q3. What did Cheitharol Kumbaba mention?
Ans: The Cheitharol Kumbaba is a royal diary of the kings of Manipur. It deals with the reign of kings of Manipur, the welfare of works taken by the kings, etc. It started in 33 AD when Meidingu Nongda Lairen Pakhangba became the king till 1955 AD, the last day of Budhachandra.
Q4. What do the archaeological sources state?
Ans: The archaeological sources of history, and the materials remains of the past that include pottery, and fossils. Coins, inscriptions, tools, etc. that have been found buried under the ground, Through archaeology, we can learn about man’s past and about the kings who ruled in ancient times.
Extra Questions and answers for History and its sources
Q1. What is meizailung?
Ans: Meizailung is the account of the migration of the Tangkhul. “Mei” means fire, “zai” means strike, and, “lung” means stone.
Q2. What is Moirang Ningthourol Lambuba?
Ans: Moirang Nngthourol Lambuba is a diary of the Moirang Kings.
Q3. What is Numismatics?
Ans: The study of materials of the past by studying early coins is called Numismatics.
Q4. What is Epigraphy?
Ans: The study of materials of the past by studying stone writings, metals, etc., is called Epigraphy.
Q5. What is a Myth?
Ans: Myth is often a tale, recited in association with a religious ceremony.
Q6. What do you mean by legends?
Ans; Legends are traditional stories commonly regarded as historical.
Q7. Name some popular myths and legends of Manipur.
Ans: Panthoibi Khongul, Khamba and Thoibi.
