Maphou
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maphou
(Lenghou Kho) | |
|---|---|
village | |
  Maphou Location in Manipur, India | |
| Coordinates: 24°49′05″N 94°08′24″E / 24.818°N 94.140°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Manipur |
| District | Kangpokpi |
| Population (2001) | |
• Total | 471 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Meiteilon (Manipuri) |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Vehicle registration | MN |
| Nearest city | Imphal |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Saikul |
| Vidhan Sabha constituency | Saikul |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 471 (2001 census) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Languages | |
| Kuki, Hangmi/Milhiem Kuki, Manipuri, English | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, Baptist | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Chin-Kuki |
Maphou is a village in the Saikul subdivision of the Kangpokpi district in Manipur, India.[1] Most residents are members of the Kuki ethnic group.
Maphou is located in the Tomching Chingsang Hills range and is situated on the bank of the Thoubal River. It is located 36 kilometres (22 mi) from the city of Imphal. It is surrounded by villages belonging to the Tangkhul tribe.
History
Maphou was established before the independence of India, by the forefathers of Lenghou Lupho. In 1945 Lenghou Lupho converted to Christianity and founded the first Christian Church in 1945. The present village chief is Haokhomang Lupho( Ex-Chairman, Thoubal Area Kuki Inpi, the great-grandson of Lenghou Lupho. Chairman Thoubal multipurpose project committee.
Church movement
As the village was established after the Lenghou family converted to Christianity, the Christian church was one of the first buildings in the village. The first church leader was Ngamkholhun Lupho. In the 1980s a second church was built. The two congregations were Newlife and Kuki Baptist Convention (KBC). After 1990 a single church was formed under the banner of the Maphou Local Baptist Church.
The golden jubilee of the church was in 1996 but the celebration was not held until 2000, due to the ethnic clashes that were occurring at that time. The theme of the jubilee celebration was a quotation from Mathew 16:18: "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
Ethnic origin of the villagers
The villagers belong to the Milhiem (also known as Milhem and Miriem) group of the Kuki ethnic group.[2] According to the unpublished booklet Misao Inkon, Pu Shinghil. Pa Minluto, their progenitor, Hangmi, is the son of Vumchom. The terms Milhiem, Mirem, Meriem, Miria, and Milhem are synonymous with Hangmi.[3] Their language is a member of the Kukish branch of the Tibeto-Burman language family, with whom they share history, culture and traditions. Recently, some concerns were raised regarding the ability of citizens of Maphou to preserve their identity and culture if intertribal marriages are allowed with the neighboring Tangkhul tribe villages and Meitei community villages.