The Court Chronicle of the Kings of Manipur: Volume 2, The Cheitharon Kumpapa

The Cheitharon Kumpapa is the court chronicle of the kings of the state of Manipur, a small, formerly independent state situated on the north-eastern border of India with Myanmar. The Cheitharon Kumpapa records events from the founding of the ruling dynasty in 33 CE until the abolition of the monarchy and subsequent merger of the state with India in 1949. The document is probably the oldest chronicle of the region, written on handmade Meetei (Manipuri) paper made from bark of trees, in locally made ink, with a quill or a bamboo pen. All in all it comprises more than a thousand leaves. The Cheitharon Kumpapa Volume 1 (2005, ISBN 978-04-1 534-430-5) covered the period 33- 1763 CE. This volume continues the translation of the chronicle up until 1843 CE. It also includes a facsimile of the original text in Meetei Mayek, the archaic Manipuri script, with a glossary for Manipuri and other loan words. Researchers on East and South Asia in the fields of social anthropology, history, archaeology, human geography and linguistics will find this volume interesting.