Namun Chaobi

Namun Chaobi () was a noblewoman of the Khuman clan in ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur), best known from the classical Meitei literary work Chainarol (An Account of Combats). She is remembered for her role as the widow of the Khuman warrior Chakha Moiremba, and for her unwavering pursuit of justice following her husband's death in a ritual combat.–––Chainarol: Way of the Warrior. India: Human Rights Alert, 2012.Singh, Ch. Manihar. A History of Manipuri Literature. India: Sahitya Akademi, 1996.AKASHVANI: Vol. XXXIII, No.12 ( 17 MARCH, 1968 ). N.p.: All India Radio (AIR),New Delhi, 1968. p. 7

 Background 

Namun Chaobi was married to Chakha Moiremba, a brave and honourable warrior of the Khuman clan. Her name is associated with loyalty, courage, and agency in a highly patriarchal warrior society. Though not a combatant herself, her actions deeply influenced the events that followed one of the most iconic duels recorded in the Chainarol.

 Role in the duel aftermath 

After Chakha Moiremba was killed in single combat by Kangbishu, a fearsome warrior from the Heirem community, Namun Chaobi mourned his death but did not accept it passively. She initially appealed to the Khuman king, requesting official revenge for her husband’s death on the trickster Heirem warrior.

The Khuman king refused, declaring that Chakha Moiremba had accepted the terms of ritual combat voluntarily and died in honourable fashion, even if his opponent had acted deceitfully.

 Pursuit of justice 

Refusing to be silenced, Namun Chaobi sought out her long-separated brother-in-law (husband's brother), and persuaded him to avenge Chakha Moiremba's death. He agreed. In a daring operation conducted at night, the brother-in-law infiltrated the Heirem settlement, where Kangbishu lived. He beheaded Kangbishu as well as the warriors who had stood guard by his side. The decapitated heads were taken back to the Khuman territory, where justice was seen as fulfilled.

 Related pages 
 Khuman warrior traditions
 Meitei martial arts
 Meitei traditional weapons
 Khuman kingdom
 Moirang kingdom
 Khuman dynasty
 Khuman Apokpa
 List of Khuman kings
 List of Khuman queens
 Khuman royal necklace incident
 Khuman Kangleirol
 Moirang Kangleirol
 Khuman Puremba
 Khuman Khamba
 Khumanlol
 Khuman language
 Khuman Kwakpa Litonpanba
 Maithingkongaba

 References 

Category:Women
Category:Meitei people
Category:Khuman kingdom
Category:Meitei folklore