The Pony of Manipur class 8 English lesson 17

The lesson “The Pony of Manipur” teaches us about the deep cultural and historical significance of the Manipuri pony in the mythology, legends, and traditions of Manipur. It highlights the pony’s unique attributes, its integral role in the development of the game Sagol Kangjei (polo), and its importance in the region’s history and identity. The narrative underscores the enduring connection between the people of Manipur and their indigenous breed of horse, celebrating its purity, strength, and endurance.

Chapter Name: The Pony of Manipur
Subject: Modern English
Lesson: 17
Class: 8
Board: Board Of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM/BSEM)
Contents: Chapter Summary, Video, Questions and Answers.

The Pony of Manipur: Chapter Summary

According to the mythology of Manipur, the powerful god Soraren fell in love with a beautiful girl of earth named Konthoujam Tampha. They got married and had a son named Khoriphaba. Tampha desired to visit her parents and relatives, so she requested Soraren. He gave permission on the condition that she should not eat with the humans on earth. She left her son and came down with the help of a magic ladder.

But she ate with her parents, thinking Soraren could not see her. However, the divine saw everything and, with great resentment, decided to part with Tampha and pull up the ladder. The separation left Tampha completely disconsolate. Finally, God Marjing of the Northeast consoled the child by giving him a beautiful young pony.

In addition to this, there is the story of gods Thangjing, Marjing, Koubru, Wangbren, and others playing Sagol Kangjei, or polo, in the mystical past of Manipur. In the legend of Khamba and Thoibi, there is also the popular episode of Thoibi riding away very fast on a horse of Nongban to reach the house of Khamba. Even today, at Heingang, at the shrine of God Marjing, people make offerings of statuettes of winged horses. From all these mythical, legendary, and ritual facts, we can safely conclude that Manipur and its people have been associated with the animal called the horse for centuries.

Throughout history, most of the old civilizations of the world, like the Chinese, Japanese, Romans, Mongols, Arabs, and Mughals, have been associated with horses and their power. The same is true of Manipur and its history. This landlocked region has age-old stories of its association with its pony, which is an indigenous breed of horse born and nourished only in Manipur.

The famous game Sagol Kangjei is believed to have started in the mythological past of Manipur with the help of its ponies. The formidable Manipur Cavalry, armed with Arambai, caused havoc in the river valleys of Chindwin in Burma and Barak in Assam, thereby proving the innate qualities of the small but tough ponies of Manipur. Compared with other ponies of the world, the ponies of Manipur possess more developed and stronger hindquarters with compact and very muscular bodies. Their hooves are closed and very strong, and shoeing is very rare in Manipur. These ponies have tremendous and time-tested power of endurance.

In other parts of the world, ponies are used for ploughing, carrying heavy loads, and pulling carts. However, Manipuri ponies are mainly used for carrying riders on their backs. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research regards the Manipuri pony, or Meitei Sagol, as one of the purest and most prestigious breeds of horses in India. It is also the original polo pony of the world.

Watch the video for the lesson The Pony of Manipur

BOSEM Solutions for Lesson 18: The Pony of Manipur

Answer the following questions in a sentence each

Q1. Who makes myths and creates legends?

Ans: Man makes myths and creates legends.

Q2. Who fell in love with KonthoujamTampha?

Ans: God Soraren fell in love with KonthoujamTampha.

Q3. Who was Khoriphaba?

Ans: Khoriphaba was the son of God Soraren and KonthoujamTampha.

Q4. Who played Sagol Kangiei in the mythical past of Manipur?

Ans: Gods- Thangjing, Marjing, Koubru, Wangbren and others played Sagol Kangiei in the mythical past of Manipur

Q5. What stories do Manipur ponies tell?

Ans: Manipuri ponies tell immortal stories of the courage, the spirit and the ceaseless quest for the distinct identity of the Manipuris.

Q6. What became a real terror in Upper Burma?

Ans: The formidable Manipuri cavalry under King Garibniwaz became a real terror in Upper Burma.

Q7. What do the ponies of Manipur possess in comparison with others?

Ans: In comparison with others, the ponies of Manipur possess more developed and stronger hindquarters.

Q8. What is it regarded as by Scientists?

Ans: The scientists regarded it as one of the purest and most prestigious breeds of horses in India.

Answer the following questions in about 20-25 words each

Q1. How did Tampha lose the magic ladder?

Ans: Tampha came to the lower region on the condition that she would not eat with the humans on the earth but she took her meal with her parents and relatives and lost the magic ladder.

Q2. Name some other civilisations associated with horses.

Ans: Some other civilisations associated with horses are the Chinese, the Japanese, the Romans, the Mongols, the Arabs and the Mughals.

Q3. Trace the origin of Sagol Kangiei.

Ans: The origin of Sagol Kangjei can be traced back to the time of Nongda Lairen Pakhangba. It has been recorded that the game was played in the year 78 A.D. on the first Saturday of the Manipuri month of Lamta on the Loukhatpa ceremony of Queen Laisna.

Q4. Mention some of the qualities of the Manipur pony.

Ans: Some of the qualities of the Manipuri pony are they are very sturdy with compact and very muscular bodies. Their hooves are closed and very strong, shoeing is very rare. They have a tremendous power of endurance.

Answer the following questions in about 50-60 words each

Q1. Write a note on the association of the Manipuri ponies with the mythical past of Manipur.

Ans: Manipuri ponies have many associations with the mythical past of Manipur. When Khoriphaba lost his mother, God Marjing gave him a beautiful young pony to console him. In addition to this, there is also a story of gods Thangiing, Marjing, Koubm, Wangbren and others playing Sagol Kangiei. Again, in the legend of Khamba and Thoibi, there is also the popular episode of Thoibi riding away very fast on a horse of Nongban to reach the house of Khamba.

Q2. What makes the Manipuri pony So important in the history of Manipur?

Ans: Since the dawn of history the ponies carried the victorious Manipuri warriors in their courageous ventures into the hostile Indo-Burmese regions of tropical Asia. The formidable Manipuri cavalry under King Garibniwaz became a real terror in Upper Burma. The Manipuri cavalry armed with the Arambai caused havoc in the river valleys of Chindwin in Burma and Barak in Assam, thereby proving the innate qualities of the small but tough ponies of Manipur.