Shambhudhan Phunglosa
Shambhudhan Phunglosa was born at dawn on 12th March’ 1850, on the Phalgoona
Purnima of Indian almanac, in the tiny village of Lonkor, near the ancient temple of
Goddess Ranachandi of the Dimasa Kachari Kings at Maibang in the Dima Hasao. His
father was Depronao Phonglo and mother Kasaidi Phonglo, who had five sons namely
Sombhudhan, Umakant, Ramakant, Ramcharan, alies Ramen and Haisholong. Amongst
them Sombhudhan was the eldest and Haisholong was the youngest. He spent his
childhood at Longkhor. His parent was shifted to Gungjung in 1860 (aprox) and then
again shifted to Saupra, a small village near Nanadisa. His parents again left this village
and went to Semdikhor (Present Dihorphonglo village near Dautohaja Rail Station).
While he was there at Semdikhor, he got married to Nasadi, daughter of Santudao
Naiding, the village head. Sombhudhan dug a well there nearby the Moti-Nala, which
name is presently identified as Sombhudhan ni Dikhor. History of Kachari Kingdom by
Sombhudhan was a devotee of Sivarai, in fact, he was found much inclined to lord
Siva since his childhood. He professed that Siva should be adored as the root of the
Three Clauses viz. creation, preservation and destruction.
Every day, he used to worship to the Lord Siva and meditate at a place named
Gragong, sitting (padmasana) on a large rock in the river of Diyung. Every day,
after returning home, he attended a large number of people who came to meet him.
Surprisingly he grasped indigenous knowledge on ethno medicine to cure many
diseases and ailments. He appointed Desain Kemprai for assisting him in collecting
herbs, shrubs from jungle which can be used as medicines. He cultivated the wild plant
in his village and kept them in the form of herbarium and stored them for future used. His
name and fame spread and people from many corners came to him with many hopes.
People look upon him as theosophist and curer of ills. (Oral note of Gumidon Kemprai in
2006 of Longma near Haflong.)
Revolt against whites (British):
The British annexed Southern part of Dimaraji i.e Dimasa-Kachari Kingdom of
Cachar in 1832. But the hills Division of Dimaraji, comprising the north of Cachar,
Dayung Valley, Khopili Valley and Dhansiri Valley including the ancient capital Dimapur,
“the Brick City” of Dimasa- Kachari Kingdom(1015-1535 A.D) was retained and held
by Tularam, the General of the King of Cachar. But after the death of Tularam, the hill
Division was finally annexed by the British in 1854. Subsequently, in 1866, different
parts this territory like Dayung Valley, Khopili Valley had been merged to the district of
Nowgong and Dhansiri valley and part of North Cachar was merged with newly created
District, Naga Hills. The rest formed the North Cachar hills comprising exclusively the
Sombhudhan was not happy with the divide and rule policy of the British, which
indented to weaken the native people. He could not console his mind that the white
should rule the non-whites. Sombhudhan therefore decided to go rebellious. He
observed that although the British had annexed the territory but they were not able to
conquer the heart of the native people. He therefore considered that everything was not
lost. He resolved to prepare for a last- ditch battle.
Sombhudhan toured extensively in the North Cachar Hills for mass contact and
organisation. He recruited a large number of youths to form revolutionary force against
the whites. He was in search of his Principal Adviser and Subordinate Commander
to look after his force. He appointed Mansingh Kemprai as Principal Adviser and
Molonthong Thaosen as subordinate Commander and established his training camp at
Maibang near the Goddess Ranachondi Temple. For smooth functioning of his training
centre at Maibang, Sombhudhan had to meet a considerable amount of expenditure; he
therefore collected levy from the local people. The increasing activities of Sombhudhan
had caused to be a great concerned to the British, and which bound to the British to
deal with firm hands on the charge of revolting against the Sombhudhan’s group. The
Sub-Divisional Officer of North Cachar had issued summons to Sombhudhan and
his Principal Adviser Mansingh Kemprai and subordinate Commander Molonthong
Thaosen. But they did not care to appear before him. On further advice from the
Deputy Commissioner, a warrant of arrest was issued by the Sub-Divisional Officer and
despatched a police-force under a police officer for apprehension of the Sombhudhan
and his group’s. But the officer failed to execute the order and came back with a letter
The letter was written by ManSingh on dictation by Sombhudhan as the phrasing of
You whites bubble
If you have any desire for food
To eat on this earth,
If you have any desire for water
To drink on this earth,
You should leave our kingdom
Before I reach you (at Gunjung)
No army would induce Sombhudhan
To appear before an illegal authority
Any army despatched to Maibang
Would be completely annihilated.
And
And
Mr. Soppi, who held the charge of SDO, considered that the situation of the Sub-
Division is going to be deteriorating and therefore he met Deputy Commissioner, Major
Boyd at Silchar. They crushed the movement with firm hands. Therefore, in January,
1882, the Deputy Commissioner, accompanied by the Sub-Divisional Officer, marched to
Maibang with a contingent of 25 Frontier Police.
Sombhudhan was quite aware of probable attack by the British at any moment.
Therefore, he had alerted his men before-hand that should outside force visit Maibang.
The Major Boyd and his party reached Maibang in an afternoon. On next day, they
marched to the Sombhudhan Camp in the early morning. Strangely he found no
man there, only the scattered huts of Sombhudhan’s cadres on the top of the hills.
Suddenly, after few moments the alarm rang and men of Sombhudhan rushed from the
surrounding hills equipped with double edges swords. Major Boyd alerted his force and
ordered not to fire until hard-pressed. Sombhudhan came out from one side of the hills
followed by his men and marched toward Major Boyd. As he came closer the security of
Major Boyd stood in between them, but Sombhudhan fearlessly struck the security guard
with his sword which glanced off his riffle causing his instant death, and Major Boyd
also at the same time lost his right arm, which resulted in his fatal death. Whereupon,
Mr. Soppit, SDO, had taken charge and ordered them to fire. As firing was commenced,
Sombhudhan’s cadres from surrounding attacked them. Finally Mr. Soppit, the SDO,
had lost the battle. More than 20 sepoy men had been killed. Luckily some of the sepoy
managed to escape from there, and returned to Gunjung with death body of Major Boyd.
The success of Sombhudhan in killing of Major Boyd and his force has made him to
claim the title of “Vir”. Oral history cited by Himkant Phonglo of Sampari village
After victory of Maibang battle, Sombhudhan got encouragement, and plan to
attack the Sub-Division, North Cachar, headquarter at “Gunjung”. On reaching Gunjung
they killed two horses of SDO, and burnt all the Government buildings and documents of
the Sub-Division office. Finally British had shifted their office to Silchar. As a result of the
incident, the Briish Govt. shifted their Sub-Division headquarter from Gunjung to Haflong
Having being successful in driving out the British from the hills, Sombhudhan now
turned to the plain of south Cachar to organise similar movement against the British
rule there. There he then contacted Uzir Dibragede, an ex-army commander of last
the Dimasa Kachari King, Raja Gobinda Chandra of Cachar. He collected iron with the
help of his followers and gathered huge amount of donation from the villager, in order
to make a weapon to fight with British. Sombhudhan had visited many Siva Temples
established by the Dimasa-Kachari Raja of Cachar and he also built a Siva Temple at a
place east of Sadagram and installed Mahadeva therein. Therefore, the place had been
In the meantime, the British Government got information of Sombhudhan’s
organisational works in the plain near Silchar. The British made a policy to catch
Sombhudhan alive from his house and arranged a woman “Rangsiringdi” to make
friendship with his wife. One night this woman stayed in his house with the intention
to remove his arms from his house. In the morning, he found no arms in his house to
defend himself and his house was condoned by British force. Immediately he started
running toward the jungle. While he was running a British sepoy threw his Khukri at him
and it made a deep cut on his right leg. Still he continued on running and went to the
jungles of Bhuban hills. He became weaker and weaker due to profuse bleeding. At last
he was caught after 2 days of British’s attack. Sombhudhan took his last breath on 12th
February’1883. Sombhudan, thus died a death of a martyr at a small and unknown place
beside a spring near Igraleing in the North Khaspur locality. After his body brought to the
headquarter at Silchar, a police force was sent to bring Vir Sombhudan’s wife, Nasadi.
But she was not there in the village. His old mother Kasaidi had received the death body
After a year, Mansingh Kemprai, the Principal Adviser of Sombhudan was arrested
in Tripura and brought to Silchar; and sentenced to penal servitude for life. There he
fasted unto his death in the Silchar district jail. Desain Kemprai the well known herbalist
and Gadao Kemprai, were settled down at Sadagram, near the Snan-Gat.
Living blood relation of Sombhudan:
After the death of Vir Sombhudan, his wife Nasadi and daughter Dauridi were taken
by relatives at the village Longma near Haflong. Dauridi got married with Mohendra
Dibragedea resident of the village Phaiding near Dautuhaja Railway station.
 |
| Shambhudhan Phunglosa,Freedom Fighter From Assam |
Purnima of Indian almanac, in the tiny village of Lonkor, near the ancient temple of
Goddess Ranachandi of the Dimasa Kachari Kings at Maibang in the Dima Hasao. His
father was Depronao Phonglo and mother Kasaidi Phonglo, who had five sons namely
Sombhudhan, Umakant, Ramakant, Ramcharan, alies Ramen and Haisholong. Amongst
them Sombhudhan was the eldest and Haisholong was the youngest. He spent his
childhood at Longkhor. His parent was shifted to Gungjung in 1860 (aprox) and then
again shifted to Saupra, a small village near Nanadisa. His parents again left this village
and went to Semdikhor (Present Dihorphonglo village near Dautohaja Rail Station).
While he was there at Semdikhor, he got married to Nasadi, daughter of Santudao
Naiding, the village head. Sombhudhan dug a well there nearby the Moti-Nala, which
name is presently identified as Sombhudhan ni Dikhor. History of Kachari Kingdom by
Sombhudhan was a devotee of Sivarai, in fact, he was found much inclined to lord
Siva since his childhood. He professed that Siva should be adored as the root of the
Three Clauses viz. creation, preservation and destruction.
Every day, he used to worship to the Lord Siva and meditate at a place named
Gragong, sitting (padmasana) on a large rock in the river of Diyung. Every day,
after returning home, he attended a large number of people who came to meet him.
Surprisingly he grasped indigenous knowledge on ethno medicine to cure many
diseases and ailments. He appointed Desain Kemprai for assisting him in collecting
herbs, shrubs from jungle which can be used as medicines. He cultivated the wild plant
in his village and kept them in the form of herbarium and stored them for future used. His
name and fame spread and people from many corners came to him with many hopes.
People look upon him as theosophist and curer of ills. (Oral note of Gumidon Kemprai in
2006 of Longma near Haflong.)
Revolt against whites (British):
The British annexed Southern part of Dimaraji i.e Dimasa-Kachari Kingdom of
Cachar in 1832. But the hills Division of Dimaraji, comprising the north of Cachar,
Dayung Valley, Khopili Valley and Dhansiri Valley including the ancient capital Dimapur,
“the Brick City” of Dimasa- Kachari Kingdom(1015-1535 A.D) was retained and held
by Tularam, the General of the King of Cachar. But after the death of Tularam, the hill
Division was finally annexed by the British in 1854. Subsequently, in 1866, different
parts this territory like Dayung Valley, Khopili Valley had been merged to the district of
Nowgong and Dhansiri valley and part of North Cachar was merged with newly created
District, Naga Hills. The rest formed the North Cachar hills comprising exclusively the
Sombhudhan was not happy with the divide and rule policy of the British, which
indented to weaken the native people. He could not console his mind that the white
should rule the non-whites. Sombhudhan therefore decided to go rebellious. He
observed that although the British had annexed the territory but they were not able to
conquer the heart of the native people. He therefore considered that everything was not
lost. He resolved to prepare for a last- ditch battle.
Sombhudhan toured extensively in the North Cachar Hills for mass contact and
organisation. He recruited a large number of youths to form revolutionary force against
the whites. He was in search of his Principal Adviser and Subordinate Commander
to look after his force. He appointed Mansingh Kemprai as Principal Adviser and
Molonthong Thaosen as subordinate Commander and established his training camp at
Maibang near the Goddess Ranachondi Temple. For smooth functioning of his training
centre at Maibang, Sombhudhan had to meet a considerable amount of expenditure; he
therefore collected levy from the local people. The increasing activities of Sombhudhan
had caused to be a great concerned to the British, and which bound to the British to
deal with firm hands on the charge of revolting against the Sombhudhan’s group. The
Sub-Divisional Officer of North Cachar had issued summons to Sombhudhan and
his Principal Adviser Mansingh Kemprai and subordinate Commander Molonthong
Thaosen. But they did not care to appear before him. On further advice from the
Deputy Commissioner, a warrant of arrest was issued by the Sub-Divisional Officer and
despatched a police-force under a police officer for apprehension of the Sombhudhan
and his group’s. But the officer failed to execute the order and came back with a letter
The letter was written by ManSingh on dictation by Sombhudhan as the phrasing of
You whites bubble
If you have any desire for food
To eat on this earth,
If you have any desire for water
To drink on this earth,
You should leave our kingdom
Before I reach you (at Gunjung)
No army would induce Sombhudhan
To appear before an illegal authority
Any army despatched to Maibang
Would be completely annihilated.
And
And
Mr. Soppi, who held the charge of SDO, considered that the situation of the Sub-
Division is going to be deteriorating and therefore he met Deputy Commissioner, Major
Boyd at Silchar. They crushed the movement with firm hands. Therefore, in January,
1882, the Deputy Commissioner, accompanied by the Sub-Divisional Officer, marched to
Maibang with a contingent of 25 Frontier Police.
Sombhudhan was quite aware of probable attack by the British at any moment.
Therefore, he had alerted his men before-hand that should outside force visit Maibang.
The Major Boyd and his party reached Maibang in an afternoon. On next day, they
marched to the Sombhudhan Camp in the early morning. Strangely he found no
man there, only the scattered huts of Sombhudhan’s cadres on the top of the hills.
Suddenly, after few moments the alarm rang and men of Sombhudhan rushed from the
surrounding hills equipped with double edges swords. Major Boyd alerted his force and
ordered not to fire until hard-pressed. Sombhudhan came out from one side of the hills
followed by his men and marched toward Major Boyd. As he came closer the security of
Major Boyd stood in between them, but Sombhudhan fearlessly struck the security guard
with his sword which glanced off his riffle causing his instant death, and Major Boyd
also at the same time lost his right arm, which resulted in his fatal death. Whereupon,
Mr. Soppit, SDO, had taken charge and ordered them to fire. As firing was commenced,
Sombhudhan’s cadres from surrounding attacked them. Finally Mr. Soppit, the SDO,
had lost the battle. More than 20 sepoy men had been killed. Luckily some of the sepoy
managed to escape from there, and returned to Gunjung with death body of Major Boyd.
The success of Sombhudhan in killing of Major Boyd and his force has made him to
claim the title of “Vir”. Oral history cited by Himkant Phonglo of Sampari village
After victory of Maibang battle, Sombhudhan got encouragement, and plan to
attack the Sub-Division, North Cachar, headquarter at “Gunjung”. On reaching Gunjung
they killed two horses of SDO, and burnt all the Government buildings and documents of
the Sub-Division office. Finally British had shifted their office to Silchar. As a result of the
incident, the Briish Govt. shifted their Sub-Division headquarter from Gunjung to Haflong
Having being successful in driving out the British from the hills, Sombhudhan now
turned to the plain of south Cachar to organise similar movement against the British
rule there. There he then contacted Uzir Dibragede, an ex-army commander of last
the Dimasa Kachari King, Raja Gobinda Chandra of Cachar. He collected iron with the
help of his followers and gathered huge amount of donation from the villager, in order
to make a weapon to fight with British. Sombhudhan had visited many Siva Temples
established by the Dimasa-Kachari Raja of Cachar and he also built a Siva Temple at a
place east of Sadagram and installed Mahadeva therein. Therefore, the place had been
In the meantime, the British Government got information of Sombhudhan’s
organisational works in the plain near Silchar. The British made a policy to catch
Sombhudhan alive from his house and arranged a woman “Rangsiringdi” to make
friendship with his wife. One night this woman stayed in his house with the intention
to remove his arms from his house. In the morning, he found no arms in his house to
defend himself and his house was condoned by British force. Immediately he started
running toward the jungle. While he was running a British sepoy threw his Khukri at him
and it made a deep cut on his right leg. Still he continued on running and went to the
jungles of Bhuban hills. He became weaker and weaker due to profuse bleeding. At last
he was caught after 2 days of British’s attack. Sombhudhan took his last breath on 12th
February’1883. Sombhudan, thus died a death of a martyr at a small and unknown place
beside a spring near Igraleing in the North Khaspur locality. After his body brought to the
headquarter at Silchar, a police force was sent to bring Vir Sombhudan’s wife, Nasadi.
But she was not there in the village. His old mother Kasaidi had received the death body
After a year, Mansingh Kemprai, the Principal Adviser of Sombhudan was arrested
in Tripura and brought to Silchar; and sentenced to penal servitude for life. There he
fasted unto his death in the Silchar district jail. Desain Kemprai the well known herbalist
and Gadao Kemprai, were settled down at Sadagram, near the Snan-Gat.
Living blood relation of Sombhudan:
After the death of Vir Sombhudan, his wife Nasadi and daughter Dauridi were taken
by relatives at the village Longma near Haflong. Dauridi got married with Mohendra
Dibragedea resident of the village Phaiding near Dautuhaja Railway station.
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