Kumcha Lempi
character in Meitei folklore
Kumcha Lempi (Meitei: ꯀꯨꯝꯆꯥ ꯂꯦꯝꯄꯤ, romanized: /koom-chaa lem-pee/), also known as Kumja Lembi (Meitei: ꯀꯨꯝꯖꯥ ꯂꯦꯝꯕꯤ, romanized: /koom-jaa lem-bee/), is a woman in Meitei mythology and folklore of ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). She is known for being a victim of an attack by a tiger in Khoirentak.
Her tragedy is frequently mentioned, narrated and retold in the Moirang Kangleirol legends, usually by the Pena (musical instrument) playing balladeers till present times.
Etymology
In Meitei language, "Kumcha" (Meitei: ꯀꯨꯝꯆꯥ, romanized: /koom-chaa/) or "Kumja" (Meitei: ꯀꯨꯝꯖꯥ, romanized: /koom-jaa/) means "year" or "yearly" or "annual" or "seasonal", and "Lempi" (Meitei: ꯂꯦꯝꯄꯤ, romanized: /lem-pee/) or "Lembi" (Meitei: ꯂꯦꯝꯕꯤ, romanized: /lem-bee/) means "graceful" or "gentle" or "elegant".
Background
Kumcha Lempi (Meitei: ꯀꯨꯝꯆꯥ ꯂꯦꯝꯄꯤ, romanized: /koom-chaa lem-pee/) was very small when her mother died. After some time, her father remarried. Her stepmother was very cruel and rude to her, especially in her father's absence.
Kumcha Lempi suffered atrocities and bitter treatments from her evil stepmother in her life.
Tragedy
Once the king of ancient Moirang announced that no one should go out of their respective houses when the sun set off, because a wild tiger from Khoirentak was roaming around freely, among the reeds of the shores of the Loktak lake (Meitei: ꯂꯣꯛꯇꯥꯛ ꯄꯥꯠ, romanized: /lok-taak paat/).
Upon hearing such news, Kumcha Lempi's stepmother, who was searching for every possible opportunity to get rid of her poor stepdaughter, intentionally and forcibly sent Kumcha Lempi, in the evening time, to the shore of the Loktak lake, telling her to collect basketful herbs ("yellang keng-ngoi") for that very day's dinner, and not to come back to home if she didn't bring what is said to her to be brought.
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