Muhammad Sani

The arrival of the Pangal community into Manipur during the 17th century was mainly recorded in indigenous primary sources such as the Cheithalon Kumpapa (the court chronicle of the kings of Manipur), the Nongsamei Puya, and the Pangal Thorakpa.^[2][3][4] These extensively discuss the initial invasion led by Muhammad Sani, the community's establishment in the region, and the interactions which were subsequently enabled between Manipur and Taraf, where the early Pangals had originated.^[3][5] Further reference to the Pangal settlement is also found in the Ningthourel Lambuba, the Khagemba Lanpha, and the Khagemba Langjei.^[4]

However, the history of Taraf (as well as that of the Sylhet region and Bengal in general) is silent about these events. Moreover, it is notable that the descriptions of Taraf provided by the Nongsamei Puya erroneously place it on the banks of the Surma River, which is actually of considerable distance from the former's present-day location of Habiganj District, Bangladesh.^[6][7]

Muhammad Sani is described as a descendant of Mirza Malik Muhammad Turani,^[8] a 14th century Persian noble from whom the rulers of the Pratapgarh Kingdom also traced their ancestry.^[9] His elder brother, named Muhammad Nazir or Bayazid Karrani, was recorded as the ruler of Taraf in Sylhet,^{[10][note 1]} with Sani himself ruling territory as a Nawab in the south of that kingdom.^[12]

However, given that Muhammad Sani's name is absent from the histories of Bengal, alternative narratives have also emerged regarding his ethnicity and background. The Pangal Panchayat Report of 1932, produced by the Manipuri Muslims' judicial court, included a brief history of the Pangal clans. In this, Sani is described as a soldier from Delhi who had migrated to Baniachung in Sylhet, from where he led the Manipur invasion.^[13] Writers Kullachandra Sharma and Badaruddin call Sani a Mughal,^[14][15] while historian Kheiruddin Khullakpam refers to him as a Turk.^[16][17] Researcher Abdul Samad suggests that Muhammad Sani had actually been the brother of the Afghan leader Khwaja Usman, with historian Syed Ahmed adding that the authors of the Nongsamei Puya and Pangal Thorakpa may have made errors with the latter's name.^[18][19]

In 1606, the Taraf king was approached by the Manipuri prince Shanongba for aid in an invasion against his brother, the reigning monarch Khagemba.^[20] 1000 Muslim soldiers were dispatched under Sani's command, in addition to several other military leaders, including his younger brothers Shah Kusum, Sheikh Juned and Kourif Sheikh.^[21][10]

The army invaded Manipur in conjunction with troops from the Kachari ruler Pratap Narayan, who Shanongba had also allied with. They entered the region of Khoupom, with the Taraf soldiers establishing a base on the banks of the Sarel Yangoi River while the Kachari remained on the upper hills.^[22][12] However, upon observing the arriving Manipuri army, the Kachari became intimidated by their military arsenal and retreated during the night, returning to their homeland without informing the Muslims. The latter subsequently chose to engage with the Manipuri alone and in the ensuing battle at Toubul (in present-day Bishnupur district), successfully defeated them.^[20] This prompted Khagemba to approach Sani diplomatically, sending his courtier Nongshamei to negotiate a mutual withdrawal of troops. However, upon Sani's agreement, the Manipuri force surrounded the now-unarmed Taraf troops and forced them to surrender on pain of death.^[23]

The defeated soldiers opted (or were perhaps forced) to settle in Manipur, and Sani was allocated fertile territory on the bank of the Imphal and Iril rivers, in what is present-day Moirangkhom Yaiskul, to establish his people.^[1][24] They were given work depending on their respective skills, married to Meitei wives and in time adopted the regions dress, traditions and language, eventually becoming known as Pangals.^{[23][25][note 2]} It has been generally accepted that this was the first settlement of Muslims in Manipur.^[28]

Sani himself received 12 acres of land and two Meitei wives named Nongthombam Maitek and Chakpram Melei.^[29] He was favoured by Khagemba and had a privileged position in the royal court.^[25] Appointed as Qazi-ul-Qazat (chief judge) of the nascent Muslim community, Sani served the dual role of supervising the judiciary and being a lalchingba (major), leading Pangal soldiers during times of war.^[30] He was also one of the Pongba Tara, the ten ministers who assisted the king in administration, and was further entrusted with translating correspondence from Taraf due to his fluency in Bengali and Urdu.^[31]

In later years, Sani aided in the establishment of further Muslim migrants in the kingdom. In 1608, Syed Ambiya, Syed Abdullah and Syed Khalka Hussain, brothers of the Taraf king's spiritual advisor Syed Auriya, were honoured and settled by Khagemba on Sani's advice.^{[note 3]} Much later, in 1672, Sani introduced a further 37 Muslims to the then king Paikhomba (r.1666–1697). In return for gifts of gold and elephants, this group was also permitted to reside in Manipur. Among them were Sunarphool, Lukyaphool, Miliya Sheikh, Phuleicha Sandulla Sheikh, Leithou and Sheikh Jali.^[32][33] Many of these individuals are the founders of extant Manipuri Pangal clans.^[34]

Sani's descendants subsequently continued to hold a place in the royal court.^[35] The present-day Touthongmayum, Khullakpam, Tampakmayum and Chesabam clans trace their ancestry from Sani and his younger brothers.^[29][36]