Awaa Ngamba

The Awa Ngamba () or the Ouwa Ngamba () is a classical Meitei language historical work that tells the story of Gambhir Singh, the youngest son of Maharaja Bhagyachandra of Manipur. The work focuses on his heroism, leadership, and efforts to free Manipur from Burmese control.

 Background 

Marjit Singh, the fourth son of Bhagyachandra, became king by removing his elder brother Chaurajit Singh with help from the Burmese. However, after becoming king, Marjit Singh turned against the Burmese. In response, Manipur was devastated for seven years.Singh, Ch. Manihar. A History of Manipuri Literature. India: Sahitya Akademi, 1996.Manipur-Myanmar Historical Connections. India: Concept Publishing Company Pvt. Limited, 2022.Sampath, Vikram. Bravehearts of Bharat: Vignettes from Indian History. India: Penguin Random House India Private Limited, 2022.

During this period, the three fugitive princes of Manipur—Chaurajit, Marjit, and Gambhir Singh—joined forces. Together, they defeated Govindchandra, the king of Cachar, and divided his land among themselves.

 Burmese invasion and British alliance 

The Burmese continued to attack strongly. Their invasion also affected Cachar and nearby British territories. The British asked Gambhir Singh, a Meitei prince, to help stop the Burmese. In return, they supported him with weapons, ammunition, and supplies to remove the Burmese from Manipur.

After successfully pushing the Burmese out of Cachar, Gambhir Singh built an army of 4,000 soldiers, using 500 rifles provided by the British. He chased the Burmese beyond the borders of Manipur and fulfilled his promise to wash the blood on his sword at the Ningthi River in Burma.

 Campaigns and consolidation 

After regaining control of Manipur, Gambhir Singh carried out fast military campaigns against the hill tribes who resisted his rule. These campaigns showed his strong courage and determination.

 Other themes 

The rest of the work includes stories and discussions such as:

 Manipuri scholars answering British questions about the royal lineage of Manipur

 Maharaja Bhagyachandra's prophecy about Gambhir Singh's future

 The type of Vaishnavism practiced in Manipur, with references to the holy life of Sri Chaitanya

The writer of the work seems to know Hindu and Vaishnavite texts well. However, the language used focuses more on storytelling than on literary style. Some borrowed words are misspelled. Even so, there are some powerful lines that bring life to parts of the story.

 Incident during a British-Burmese Battle 

One notable scene in the work shows Gambhir Singh's bravery during a battle between British and Burmese forces. The British commander, David Scott, invited the Meitei prince to watch the battle. Gambhir Singh did not come as a mere observer. He came fully prepared for action.

During the battle, the British misunderstood the Burmese retreat, not knowing they were hiding. Suddenly, the Burmese attacked from all sides, causing heavy losses. In the confusion, they tried to capture David Scott. From a distance, Gambhir Singh saw the danger. He rode his horse straight into the fight, sword in hand. Many Burmese soldiers were killed by him. He rescued David Scott by lifting him with one arm and riding back quickly.

The British dead and wounded were taken to the Tilain outpost over the next day and night, with the prince himself standing guard.

 Gambhir Singh’s words 

After the rescue, a British officer thanked Gambhir Singh. The prince replied:

The British officer was deeply moved and lowered his head in shame.

 Leadership and legacy 


Although Gambhir Singh was a natural leader, he still listened to others before making big decisions. Before asking for British help to remove the Burmese from Manipur, he first consulted his people.

The work supports the traditional view of Gambhir Singh as the saviour of Manipur from Burmese control and as a kind-hearted leader devoted to his people.

 Related pages 
 Takhel Ngamba
 Samsok Ngamba
 Khahi Ngamba

 References 

Category:Meitei literature
Category:Medieval literature
Category:History of Manipur
Category:History of Myanmar