Hiangtam

Hiangtam is a village located within Churachandpur district of Manipur, India.

Historical significance

Hiangtam is a small, but historic village on the Indo-Myanmar border. It is one of the oldest settlements of the Zomi community in Manipur, India. Hiangtam is best known for its association with the Kuki Rising (locally called "Zogal") during World War I. The Manlun chief Goulun of this Zou village rebelled against British colonial rule in 1917–19. The immediate cause of the uprising was forced recruitment of the natives for the Labour Corps in France. Goulun was one of the bravest zou leader and the greatest of his time.

Related place names

The local name of Churachandpur town in Manipur is Hiangtam Lamka, or generally shortened as Lamka. Though permanent settlement in Lamka began only in 1930, the British had already built a rudimentary road from Lamka to Hiangtam as part of their effort to suppress the tribal uprising - hence the term "Hiangtam-Lamka". In 1999, a new Zou settlement, Hiangzou, came into existence within Churachandpur town. The name, Hiangzou, was inspired by the historic Hingtam village further south.