Born on 15 December 1940 in Lungsai village under the present-day Hienglep Sub-Division of Churachandpur district, Manipur, India, Thongpao was the eldest among four surviving children of Vumkhothong and Dimkhochiin. Recognising the importance of education and aspiring for their son to secure government employment, his parents later moved to Tuibuong village in 1947. There, young Thongpao began his formal education at Lingshiphai Lower Primary School before continuing his studies at Churachandpur Government High School, from which he completed his matriculation in 1964. He subsequently enrolled in the Pre-University Course (PUC) in 1965.
His childhood was deeply shaped by tragedy and resilience. At the age of eleven, in 1951, he accidentally triggered an abandoned World War II explosive shell while attempting to detach its marble-like component. The explosion severely injured him, resulting in the loss of all the fingers on his right hand and several teeth. Despite this devastating accident, he miraculously survived and gradually adapted to life by learning to use his left hand for writing, eating, and daily activities. With unwavering support from his family and friends, he overcame these physical limitations and continued his education with remarkable determination.
Another major challenge came in 1957, when Thongpao was diagnosed with tuberculosis and transferred to Chingmeirong Hospital in Imphal, where he remained for more than a year. Even during this difficult period, his leadership qualities became evident. At the hospital, he founded the Chingmeirong Patients’ Association, which organised art exhibitions, seminars on patients’ rights, and recreational activities. He also played a central role in initiating the Eimi (Christian) Patients’ Association, where prayer meetings and Christmas celebrations were held. During his hospital stay, he composed his first love song, Kasiel Siel Chieng, marking the beginning of his lifelong musical journey.
Thongpao entered government service on 25 July 1966 as a Lower Primary School teacher and was first posted at Phaikholum village in Thanlon Sub-Division, a remote area accessible only after several days of travel. Over the years, he served with dedication at various schools and eventually became Headmaster of Bijang Loubuk Junior High School in Zoveng, from which he retired in 2003.
Alongside his educational career, Thongpao emerged as a towering cultural figure among the Zou and Zomi communities. He composed more than one hundred songs, many of which became deeply embedded in the collective memory of the people. Among his most celebrated works were the anthem of the Manipur Youth Christian Association (MYCA) composed in 1963, the Zou Sangnaupang Pawlpi anthem Thou Un, Thou Un, and the United Zou Organisation anthem Semguo Gin Ngai Lawng Luom Nou Toh, composed in 1967 at Phaikholum village. He was especially emotionally attached to the MYCA anthem, which reportedly moved him to tears during later interviews.
Thongpao was not only a songwriter but also a singer, actor, dramatist, music instructor, and self-taught expert in tonic sol-fa notation. While tending cattle in his youth, he independently learned musical notation and later became an instructor himself. Many of his compositions carried sophisticated tonic sol-fa structures, helping elevate Zo/Zou musical traditions. His songs became immensely popular, echoing across villages and hills, and many children would gather around him singing his latest compositions whenever he travelled.
His contribution extended beyond music into institution-building and community leadership. Thongpao played foundational roles in establishing several organisations and institutions, including Tuibuong Junior Basic School, Zoveng MGP Church, Taithul Phungpi Organisation, and Zoveng LP School. He also served in important leadership positions in organisations such as the Zou Sangnaupang Pawlpi General Headquarters as Music Secretary and the Taithul Phungpi Organisation as General Secretary.
A Documentary Of The Living Legend Pu T. Thongpau
One of the most historically significant chapters of his life was his involvement in the Zomi Inter-Confessional Bible Translation Committee from 1975 to 1983. Deeply committed to the translation of the Holy Bible into the Zo/Zou language, he worked tirelessly alongside other religious leaders and scholars to make the scripture accessible to the people in their mother tongue. Such was his devotion that he reportedly vowed not to shave his beard until the translation project was completed. After years of collective effort, the Zo/Zou Holy Bible was finally published in 1983 under the Diocese of Imphal. The translation movement itself represented a milestone in Zo/Zou literary history, fostering linguistic unity and cultural preservation.
Beyond his artistic achievements, Thongpao’s writings reflected a profound sense of nationalism, cultural consciousness, and concern for the future of the Zo/Zou people. His poems and songs, such as Aw Zo-Gam and Kei Ka Kuan Ding Zo-Lei Ah expressed deep emotional attachment to the homeland, aspirations for self-determination, and a vision for collective progress. These compositions continue to resonate among later generations as expressions of identity, hope, and cultural pride.
Thongpao was married to Niangsuanching, the second daughter of Vialzalun and Vunghat of Sialna village in Singngat Sub-Division. Together, they were blessed with six children: Chiindeiniang, Thongkhanlal, Hatkhanching, Kamzamuanthang, Niangneihoi, and Chiinneimawi.
T. Thongpao’s life stands as a testimony to resilience, creativity, faith, and service. Despite enduring physical disability and illness, he transformed adversity into a life dedicated to education, music, literature, and community upliftment. His songs, leadership, and cultural contributions remain enduring treasures of Zou heritage and continue to inspire generations across Manipur and beyond.
Zou Christian Khanglai Pawl Lapi
GAM NI TAN NAI LOUNA
By T.Thongpau
Doh is A8
1. Gam nitan nailouna Zogam nuomtah ah,
Hing taang ven Kalvari sunni hing ngaaiung;
Pi leh Pu tuun leh zuo leh lie leh taang ten,
En ven Van Mang shina hankhuh zuon nalaai uh.
M.Y.C.A. machieng suon vai,Tembanga hiem zaitha patbang saiin;Selung mawl zata vontawi laiah,Kumtawn tuong lam kihunna din;Khaubang sut vai Gospel tangmipha.
2. Aw Jesu Van Hagau siengthou hingsawl ven,
Kalvari itna simthu khaaubang sut di’n;
Nang tellouin mihiem thaleh chitnaten,
A mizata lungmawl um banglai vuh zoulou.
3. Manipur Seinou Khristian Pawlpi lai ah,
Hing makai ven aw Van Mang Emmanuel;
Selung vabang pil dougaal sangza laai ah,
Pheiphung suon la ung tung Lunmang hing panpi ven.
4. Mang Emmanuel in ma ang kai pouleh,
Van Mang gaalkapte koie ei dou thei ding;
Zawna zaila savai ginglawm chinteng toh,
Kalvari hepina zata bila zah din.
Thou un thou un ZSP seinou guolte,
I Zogam dam diidiei ni bang taan di’n;
Khang tamtahte muol aliemna,
Pi-le-pute, haanzai sahna, nunnop zaidei awina.
Tu’n ZSP khawnvaah hi hai,
I gam miel ni bang taan di’n;
Thou un, thou un, thou un,
Tui bang luongin lung kituo in.
I Zogam tuisiengte zong lung kituoh in,
Luong diel diel uh tuipi kinawng zuon in;
Ei zong luongvai tuipi zuon in,
Lung kituoh in luong diel diel vai, sangnaupang pawlpite.
Khang tamtahte lamkai ngai in mangbang uh,
Tu’n ei sangnaupang pawl kisa tavai;
I gam miel in haibang ngahla,
Pang chiet va ui, I Zogam nuom siemthana’n vai hawm vai.
Tung Pasian hing panpi in ZSPte,
Hing pien pilna, hoina leh zaidamna;
Kukal taha pang chiet diing in,
Hatna hing pie’n Zomi Sangnaupang Pawl leh lamkaite.
Composer – Pu Thongpau Zou
THOU UN! THOU UN! THOU UN!
As told by Pu T. Thongpau
ZSP Anthem (THOU UN ! THOU UN ! THOU UN !) toh kisai in apaisa October 8, 2011 (Saturday) jingmawng in ZT Editorialte leh Pu Nengchinlam, President, Zou Sangnaupang Pawlpi General Headquarter in Pu T.Thongpau aki houlim pi hi. ZSP Anthem hingpiendan leh akhietna tambang in ahing hilchien hi.
Thou un ! Thou un! ZSP seinou guolte
Kaphuohlai
in siemzilna lam ah koima akithou naisih hi. Singngat, Tuining, Sugnu etc, kuol
ah laisiem aki um naisih a, (Tuoitengphai HS jong umnailou, Middle School umpan
hamham) a ihmu nalai akisuoh hi. Zou tawndan, khandan leh saannemla chilam ah
kikhangthou thou nanleh education leh khanletna lam (development) ah ki ihmu
nalai or ki khanglou naisih a, a ihmu mil kihi nalai hi. Neukhat atheidawm a
inei sunsunte zong ihmu hem akipang nalai uhi.
Tu dinmun neukhat khangtou nanlei IAS/IPS nasan kineijou nailou, sepna lien nei leh kisahtheipi ching kinei nailou ahijieh in bangma kihi nailou in kakoi hi.
Thou un ichi pen- khenkhat BA angzaw uleh sang kisa mama, aban idea neilou, bangchi masawn ding chi a lungtang a um nailou. IAS hithei ding pan zong muzoulou, athawlou zieh ahi. Kei ngaidan in a ihmu kihi nalai.
Thou un chi in religious lamzong a kawh hi. Nidang a Paite bible kijang, convention a ki um, upa ding, tirkouh ding hing kibawl utlou, ingiem dan a hing ki net suhnalai ahi.
Economic lam a kichau mama nalai hi. Lekha sim nading (education) a sum kiseng peilou, zu leina ding a kiphalte ihi nalai hi. Social lam ah- hulai a kuong leh beel sopdan zong kithei lou, kou kava sopsah uh hi nalai. Siengthouna lam ikivat jieh a nap kai nalai in Zou napdoh ahing kichi hi.
I Zogam dam diidiei nibang tan ding
Zogam sung pen lei hoi in, singga louga pieng in, agate ineeh leh ki lungkim mai, ken na sem vang in hausavang chi umlou, ‘kei kakiel a ahileh ka upa umna’ chi lungtang kinei, a lungsimsie umlou, kingainatna tam in nei- le-lam kizou tuote ihi. Hih umdan in ei ading in khantouna ahing tun sih a, masawnna bangma muding a umsih hi.. Sang naupangten masawn sah vai nibang tan van china ahi.
Khang tamtahte muol a liamna
Pi leh Pute hanla sahna nunnop jaidei oina
Hulai a mi khat in sa amat lezong inchin a kikhol ua,
sannemlate sa in, nuam asa mama uhi. Khantouna pen umlou, geelzong geelpha
ahisih hi. Kumkho ningneeh theisen lawmguol toh haulunmang pienna ngailou e.
haulunmang zong a jalna mun ah sesum phungching in Zolei sawmtang thou angailou
e ana chi va ia uhi. Khodou ana bawl uh, nungah tangval sannemla sa a ana
janhah uhi.
Tu’n ZSP
khonvah hihai
ZSPte hi meivah
bang a hing kilangte ihi uhi. Khonvah bang a tang ding ihi uhi. Hulai in meila
ana kitang in, khonvah athupi mama nalai hi. Hujieh a khonvah toh teekah ahi.
Symbolic neideu a kigeen ahi.
Igam miel
nibang tan ding
Imi isate khuo
musah ni, changkang, khanglien sah ni – bangteng (all walks of life) ah
khanglou san ni
Thou un! Thou un! Thou un!
Hikhu velkhat a kihante kihilou, vel 3 tan beh kihante ihi uhi.
Ikhanmaw bohte thei unla, hing kisa un china ahi. Tulai BA, MA kitam nanleh
ikhotang hinkhuo i etchieng in ahithei naisih hi. I lamkaite entalei- zu leh sa a kimawl thang nalai, ningju lou
in pui theilou chipen um nalai. Laisiem kichite’n zong laisiem kihisah in,
nulehpa vah ding a kikoi ziauzuau nalai, mi etton ding chi geel nailou. Laisiem
‘khat kavele, ka dinmun theilou maw’ chivel a kiliensah nalai. Khamnei tam
lehang zong bangma kihi nailou. Itheiding, imapui ding tam sengseng in hute
kibawl nailou. Nam changkang ichi America chivelten tam anthem hengthei ta va,
ei ading in, izogam ifan a ahileh tutan a sannem lasa a vuikai den, education
leh khanletna lampang geelkha nailou , ‘koi nei iva eng de’ chivel hi nalai hi.
Education line ah a stage sangdeu in – ‘ken BA ka pass masang in ji kanei
sihding’ kana chi hi. Hinanleh hing ngainatpi ding a umlou jieh in ahithei sih
hi.
Tukhang a ka khanglouta hi chipawl in – ama un gamsung khanletna
ding in pan la ut nailou, ut lezong pan lapei lou ahichieng un a khanglou
nailou ahi. Apil asiem umsunte zong ama uh innsung maimai ngaituo (concentrate)
nalai, ama kitumtoh letsah in, nasep sil bangkim a kipe peilou,khotang a bangma
bawldohloute ahi ut uhi. Munkhat a buoina khat um hitaleh kibee pai, Pasianthu
ah a innvengpa shi- hattuam a kikhen vevaw nalai, ‘ama hattuamte hi, ama khote
hi, ama beete hi’ kichi nalai. Mishi khat a umleh ‘koibe ahiei, koi hattuam
ahiai’ kichi vevaw nalai. Tambang a umlaite a thou kichitheilou
hi.
Tuibang
luongin, lungkituoh in
Tambang kidaidanna umlou a lungkituoh a um ka lunggul mama hi. UZO zong UZO a kingalou, aphung a kinga nalai, achi anam a kinga nailou- ‘kagam kami bang kachi puodiei’ chi um nailou in mi panlah ding kineem nalai ibang uhi. Lamka ihaw lezong innkhat a gieh ding in, MLA candidatete INN chivel a bahara ding kingen nalai ihi jieh un lungkituoh a luongkhawm ihi naisih uhi.
I Zogam tuisiengte zong lungkituoh in
Tuisieng in mihing lungsim sienna agen ut hi. Lungsim siengte’n mi daidan aneisih uhi. A tuisiengte zong ama leh ama koima chiil ngailou a tuipi kinawng zuon a lung dieldiel thei ahi uhi. Mihingte damtheina , khotang ngaina, mi dangte itna neite gen utna ahi ban ah, mundang a luongthei ding deina ahi.
Luong dieldiel uh tuipi kinawng juon in
I zogam sung a lunggeel neite, laisiemte izogam tuisiengte ahi. Tuipi kinawng juon in chi pen tup mun KHATLETNA, KIVAIHAWMNA, SIEMNA PILNA, EDUCATION, SCIENCE chite tui kinawng in a huom hi. Tup neilou zong kitam mama nalai, apai utlou zong aki um nalai hi. Eg David VL ZOU khu tuipi kinawng tung khat ahi. Khovel theipi, mipi kingahna thei khat ahing hita hi. Ka kipana asang mama hi.
Eizong luong vai tuipi juon in
Tup leh ngim neivai. Etsahna in katapa hing gen vang. Rs. 15000 kapie a, tup kichien neiding in delhi ah kasawl hi. (sum a umsih leh natang bawh khat ka leiding in ni bangjat ekhat kane nading hi chitan in akingam hi) Pasian hepina toh tu’n Assistant Commandant CRPF ah ahing lawching hi. Tulai laisiem kitam lezong tup leh ngiim nei a lekha sim kitamlou, a umlou toh kibang ihi. Nidang toh iki khietna a umnai sih hi. Llaisiemte zong ‘aban kang chompeisih hi’ chimai nu- leh-pa aki nalai hi.
Lung kituoh in luong dieldiel vai
Sangnaupang pawlpite
Khanlet nalam, sakholam ah, education lam ah lung kituohthei ding in sangnaupangte’n pan lavai.
Khang tamtahte puitu ngaiin mangbang uh
Nidang in Pu Thonghang, Pu Kamzakhup, Pu Kamzakham leh Pu Semkhopau maimai lamkai in akinei hi. Thonghang zong Nagaland a um ahi zieh in aki zangthei tahtah sih nalai hi. Bible leding nasan ah mi aki tawm mama hi. Lamkai kitasamte ihi. 1955/6 kum vellai a zong lamkai ki umlou. Recognition ading zong ZOU kahi ding uhi chia ana kipei vilvel ana umlou. Pu Khaikam (SDO a deed writer) lawitoh recognition inei ding hi chi kigen in, hinanleh ami akipeiding umlou. Pu T Gougin pen sepai apanna a lekha ana sim in, Imphal a clerk a anapang a recognition list a etleh ZOU ana panglou in, hu a ZOU ana pangsah hamham ahi bep hi. UZO umnailou in UNITED MANIPUR ZOMI ORGANISATION (UMZO) ana umta.1964 a Gougin BA ahing passed jou in gungallam khawmpi a UZO a hing kiheng ahipan bep hi. Tam pen Gougin leh semkhopau panlahna ahi. Khum hunsung in lamkai/puitu ngai in mi tampi ana muolliem manta uhi.
Tu’n ei Sangnaupang Pawl kisa tavai
Tun ei sangnaupangte’n ilung geel vai in, leader a kipe theitei te’n pan lavai. Lamkai hoi ki poimaw hi. Hinanleh tunitan inzong lamkaithei ding tahtah ki umnailou in kamu hi. Yangmasho Saija in ‘NOU ZOUTE LAMKAI THEI INDIA FIGURE OR MANIPUR FIGURE KHAT BEEH UMLE UCHIN NA GAM UH CHANGKANG VA UTEH’ ana chita hi. Tuajieh in sangnaupangte ikisah ding apoimaw mama ta hi.
Igam mielin haibang ngahla
Pangchiet va ui, izogam nuom siemtha na’n
vaihawm
Asiem masa um sunsunte’n- nang namun ah kei kamun ah chi’n pan lachiet va ui china ahi. Education leh khotang hinkhuo changkang nading (education, social and religion) in sangnaupangte’n panlah a, hoilou a itheite siemtha akul leh poimaw ahita hi.
Tung Pasian hing panpi in ZSPte
Pasianlou a bangma hitheilou, ahivang a tuni tan in Pasian theilou hilei akilawm hi. Mite lungtang ah thu hinggen in, tahsa a theisiemna lampang ah thu hing gen in chia Pasian kung a ZSPte ading a thumna ahi.
Hingpie’n pilna, hoina leh jaidamna
Pilna kipoimaw, hoina ichi chiengleh melhoina, damtheina tanpha huop a, lungsim pichin na, zaidaw theina igenna ahi.Tulai in jaidamna kichi khu akinei nai sih a, kiphu lahtuona lungsim kinei nalai.
Kukal tah a pang chiet ding in
Lawsam talezong lung kelou a Zoute khantouna ding dei a panla tentun chiet ding, mimal khantouna, sakho khantouna leh nam khantouna a pan lading in chi aim na ahi.
Hatna hingpie’n Zomi Sangnaupang Pawl leh
puitute
Adieh
in ZSP te kung ah atung a quality kigeente hing pie’n chia Pasian kung a
angetna ahi.
Literature toh kisai in Zogam Thusuo akinei masapen hi. Hinanleh, tuhun mabang in, koiman a fee pe utlou in ahing khawlta hi. Lliterature lam, hamlepau lam leh khantouna lamkhat poupou a totdet hing kisawm zing ahilam ithei naisih uhi. Laisiangthou ineisawm lai a ‘laisiangthou neiding ahi’ chi sang a’ neilouding ahi’ chi bang aki um nalai hi. Mizo, Paite etc te nasan in ‘laisimpei zong a umsih uh, kou a a umna hi’ ahing chikhum nalai uhi. Ineisun 1967 lai a new testament khu ahi. Hulai a Zoukam a letding zong koima kingalou ihi. Lungkiet huoi mama chi loungal gending katheisih hi.
Akhanglouta kisate kung a thuvaihah nuam – natheinate education a namu sunte leh pilna
khanletna nanei sunte, na sumsente leh na society ading a zanglou a ‘khanletsah
jawding zong umsih’ chia na kimohtou leh akhanglou nailou nahi nalai hi. Eima society
a khanletna inei chiet chieng a khanglou kihi pan hi
THOU UN THOU UN THOU UN chipen khanglou maimai hilou in mite puiding, atheiloute theisah ding, makai peiloute makai peina ding, tahsa ihmu apat a thawna maimai hilou in, lungsim a silhoi bawl ding a thawna, ahoi apat ahoizaw a puitou ding in gam leh nam ading a nibang a tangding china ahi. Kilaisiem sah, seple bawl a panlah ding ah hing engsih henla, pan hingla leh chi ngaisutna ahi.
Tam la pen koima hingchiil a kabawl ahisih hi. SSPPte khum hunlai in akiha singsah mama ua, mipil mihauten pan ahingla uhi. Ei a pan lading aki umsih hi. Tuibang luong in lung kituoh in ka china a khu, guolle paite muolkhum siengta, ei bang chi ding chi ka ngaituo chieng in ka hitui aluong hi. Ei vaki ngaisiet ding hilou in, mikhat kahi chi a midangte toh lung kituoh a luong ding kachi ahi. Ama utoh kibangthei ihi china ahi.
A giel hun
Tam
lavui hi Churachandpur Government High School ka kailai 1961 January/ February
lahvel a kaphuah ahi.
Laisiem
koima aki umnai sih a, class X pass zong
aki tawm mama nalai hi. ZSP aki form hoi nailou jieh in member zong aki umsih
hi. 1961 in Tuining khuo ah ZSP khawmpi ahing um a, khum in pamphlet chivel ah
tam lavui kahing giel ua, seal leh bangkim kahing bawl uhi. Khum hunlai in
resolution chivel zong ana um vateh sih hi. Hinanleh tam lavui khu ZSP anthem
hisah vai chin ka hisah ua, tuni dong in akizang nalai hi.
Ka gensa bang in tuni tan in ZSPte akhanglou kamu naisih hi. Ka tup leh ka ngiim kagente tangtung in kathei naisih hi. Khumjieh in tam anthem pen eihun ading in ahoi mama nalai a, ka visionte atangtun nading in pan hinglatha un chiin kang ngen hi.
Pu T. Thongpau theichien sem vai:
Pu thongpau hih 1940 kum vel in Lungsai(Nungsai) khuo ah apieng hi. apa Vumkhothong leh anu Dimkhochiin tate 7 lah a 4na ahi (tun 2 maimai adam tagiap uhi). Ama 1957 in Tuibuang ah ana teeng ua, tualeh 1959 in Zoveng ana sat ua, tuan ah tutan ana teeng uhi. Tun tapa 2 leh tanu 3 anei hi. aman 1965 kum in class x ana jou a, 1966 kum in Asst Teacher, Education nuoi ah ana sem in, 2005 February in ana pension ta hi. Aji ittah Nh Niangsuanching (Vialzalun leh Vunghat of Sielna tanu) to Rev. Mangdal khut ah hattuam dan siangthou in Zoveng Biehinn ah kinung uhi. Zou angainat sengseng jieh in la tampi ana phuoh a, alate tuni tan in atul naisih hi. Maban issuete ah alaphuohte hing kigiel jel ding a, a paraphrase toh hing kitahlang jel ding hi. Koipou ama houpi ut i-um leh houpi thei gige ahi. Ama Zoulai a diary maintain masapen ahi ban ah akiteen ua zong Zoulai (script) a banner giel khat ana hita hi.
Interviewed by Suanlyan
Tungnung
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