The Meeteis established their kingdom in Manipur at the beginning of the Christian era. Situated on the ‘borderlands’ between the Mongoloid civilizations of China and the Hindu world of India, the Meeteis developed their own quite distinctive culture, which radically adapted those influences which it absorbed. The Coils of Pakhangba traces the evolution of that culture, paying special attention to the oral traditions alongside the written manuscripts in the indigenous script, among which the Court Chronicle (Cheitharol Kumbaba) is preeminent. In this cultural development the role of the traditional Meetei religion and the subsequent adoption of Hindu Vaishnavism were critical. The author examines the ways in which these religions shaped social structures, sports as a preparation for warfare, arts, and music and dance. He concludes with an assessment of the current resurgence of Meetei traditions. This book is the only comprehensive survey of Meetei culture history since Hodson’s The Meitheis published in 1908.
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