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English to Manipuri: NEP General field: Other Detailed field: Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting
Source text - English Huyel Saphaba, the Mighty Warrior
Ipu Leitanthem Heramot was born Tuesday, the 30th of September 1930. He was the second among
four siblings, born to Leitanthem Tolangou and Leitanthem (O) Mangi Leima. From the age of
around 12 years, he learned the traditional Manipur martial arts, Thang-Ta. A second-generation
student of Paona Brajabashi, the legendary hero of the Anglo Manipur War of 1891. Ipu learned
Thang-Ta from acclaimed teachers such as Ojha Thoudam Chaoba, Ojha Moirangthem Anganghal
and Ojha Sagolsem Indramani.
Ipu’s first public appearance was on the 15th of August 1948. Legend says his skills and techniques
especially ripping a bundle (six pieces) of Australian GI Sheet (each 0.63 mm thick) with bare
hands, enthralled audiences. Laphu-Kakpa is art created and popularised by him during the late
1940s. It entails extreme control and technique of a sword-man in slicing a plantain trunk, placed on
a water-filled earthen pot. He would cut the stem into seven pieces without an iota of disturbance to
the pot. For his fantastic talent, Ipu was honoured by Meidingu Bodhachandra with a gold medal on
the 26th of September 1951.
Ipu founded the Nongpok Naharol Seva Marup on the 15th of May 1951, renamed Kanglei Enat
Thang-Ta Shindam Sanglen (KETTSS), to propagate Thang-Ta. He dedicated his life to excelling
Thang-Ta and for the revival of Meitei culture and tradition. He was the founder Chairman of the
Preservation Committee of Deported Manipuri War Heroes in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands,
established in 2005. He launched the Enat Kanba Numit (culture and tradition protection day) in
1975. Also, in 1976, he organised the Enatki Wakatpa Numit (protest day of indigenous Manipur
tradition).
He authored/published seven books in Manipuri (Bangla script), focusing on Manipur martial
tradition, health, and wisdom. The books are: Sarei-Sara (1978), Meehat-Meekan (1984), Thang-Ta
(1986), Oinam Bijando (1993), Khurai Nanba (1998), Akhunba Liklu Pareng (1994) and
Thanghairol Vol. 1 (2011). Besides, he started a Manipuri half-yearly journal in 1975 titled, Sarei-
Sara (Thang-Ta).
Ipu won various awards during his lifetime. On the 29th of April 1975, the Akhil Manipur Kalakar
Samelan, in recognition of his contribution to Manipur martial arts, conferred him the honorific
“Huyel Saphaba” (the mighty warrior). A biopic-video film based on his life and work “Thawai-
Mirel” (soul or life-force), was released in 1991. (L) Leitanthem Nandakishor alias Amujao enacted
the childhood title role of the protagonist. Ipu left us at the dusk of Saturday, the 8th of December
2012, at 83. KETTSS continues the journey of Ipu’s legacy, teaching Thang-Ta and organising
related events.
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