[The History of Sikkim (1908) compiled by Chogyal Thotob Namgyal and Gyamo Yeshay Dolma records the meeting of Phuntsog Namgyal, the first Chogyal of Sikkim with the Mangars and Limboos while on the way to Yoksum for his coronation. Interestingly, despite oral tradition of a supposed Palace at Mangsari Mangarzong, very little has been done to discover the history of the Mangar people in Sikkim.]
By
Yougan Tamang
Couple of years back, I was on a visit to a place
called Mangsari Mangarzong (a fort of Magar kings')in West Sikkim looking on the legend of Mangarzong.
I then had heard several fascinating stories now more of a folk tales from old
folks of the village.
Those oral traditions are now part of history
that has been passed along since generations. It was during those days, when the
Mangars were repeatedly attacked by their enemies, the Mangar King was forced
to hide his royal treasure on the nearby hills. The opposing enemies never
found the treasure but the story of hidden treasure transmitted from one
generation to another gave birth to the name ‘Gārdhaney Bhir’ meaning - ‘Valley
of Hidden Treasure’ to the place where people do believe of the Mangar King’s
hidden wealth.
The battle field narrative of Mangar Queen
riding a horse with king’s baby tied on her back is still popular to this date
and a much loved fable as well. Although her story coincides with that of Jhānsi Kī Rāni, but the Maṇgar Queen does share her fame of bravery, where she died
fighting her enemies. It is said she was surrounded by enemies on the
battlefield and there was no space for her to escape. She took her life jumping
on the river nearby. The story speaks of sentiments and I too was caught hold
of this narrative when heard for the first time.
The History of Sikkim (1908) compiled by
Chogyal Thotob Namgyal and Gyamo Yeshay Dolma records the meeting of Phuntsog
Namgyal, the first Chogyal of Sikkim with the Mangars and Limboos while on the
way to Yoksum for his coronation. Interestingly, despite oral tradition of a
supposed Palace at Mangsari Mangarzong, very little has been done to discover
the history of the Mangar people in Sikkim.
I personally visited the place with Rajen
Upadhaya, History Lecturer, Namchi Government College and his students; we had
noticed some hollowness on the land while trekking through the area. We never
knew more about it but people say that they had been hearing their foot-step
sound on the mud since long time back.
Coming back to ‘Gārdhaney Bhir’, another
fascinating incident is attached to it - just between Budang and Mangsari
Mangarzong from a roadside, we were shown a small iron rod; a part of Jhyampal
(digging bar) struck on the rock some 100 metres. Villagers say this particular
digging bar was put into the rock by a man named Motay Mangar - a 'stoutly built' labourer by
profession but known more for his power lifting ability. It was during the Jorethang –
Soreng Road construction in the 60s, Motay Mangar wanted to make a name for him to be
remembered for a long time so he struck the Jhyampal into the rock to show
his muscle supremacy.
He was more like a Hercules - remembers an old folk. I think the digging bar
must be around 5ft long and more than 4 ft of it seems to me stuck inside
the rock.
Definitely, he must have been a big name then. People have tried numerous times to pull it off but the iron rod could not be pulled off.
The old folks do remember Motay Mangar even to this day with pride and say … …
Definitely, he must have been a big name then. People have tried numerous times to pull it off but the iron rod could not be pulled off.
The old folks do remember Motay Mangar even to this day with pride and say … …
“Water and weather of those days were
different”.
Blogger's Note: This article comes in Sikkim Chronicle and the photo is slightly edited. The story of Motay Mangar above somehow bears some resemblance of the bravery of Buddhi Bal Rana of Gorkha also in the Bhot Ko Ladai Ko Sawai by Lal Bahadur Aumasi of Olnag, published in 1942 from Varanasi, India.
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