Kakching Khunou is an agricultural town in Kakching district in the Indian state of Manipur. Situated at a distance of 56 km from Imphal, it is surrounded by hillocks and agricultural land. Tarang Turel, a rivulet flowing down from the eastern hills, runs through the middle of the town serving as a natural spring. It is connected to other parts of the state by the Imphal -Sugnu state highway.
Population
India census, Kakching Khunou had a population of 11,379. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. It has an average literacy rate of 66.74%, lower than the national average of 74.04%. In Kakching Khunou, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
History
As the name clearly indicates, the people inhabiting Kakching Khunou had once migrated or bifurcated from Kakching. It is believed that these people under the leadership of Khamlangba first came from the west and settled down at Uripok, Imphal though their pre-historic records could not be traced. These laborious people in search of their iron-ore moved from Uripok towards the south and settled for sometime near Kshetri Leikai of present Thoubal, during the reign of Charailongba Shortly thereafter, they migrated to Kakching Khuman near Pallel. During the reign of Garib Niwas Kakching was governed by Budhiraj. In the year 1790, during the reign of Bheigyachandra, they shifted to the present Kakching site while some sections moved further south and settled at Kakching Khunou. During the reign of Chourajit in 1726 one Leimapokpam Chandra was transported as Loi at Kakching Khunou which is evident of the village having existed. The Historical evidence of these people can easily be traced from many authentic books and records. Special mention in this connection can be made of that of Captain R. Boileau Pemberton's "Report on the Eastern Frontier of British India,1835" in which he described at page 30
"..Kokshing lungsaee, Kokshing Khunao, Kokshing Khoolen and Langathel are the principal villages at which the iron works are carried on, under the direction of called Budhiraj Rajah, who claims for his ancestors the merit of having first discovered the existence of iron-ore in the valley and of rendering it subserve into the use of man".
And these professional people were also governed through the leadership of one Khullakpa as Hudson clearly mentioned in his book "The Meitheis". In Gazetteer of Manipur Capt. E.W. Dun clearly stated the settlement of Kakching Khunou village. Moreover, all the Kakching Villages in manipur worshipped Khamlangba and Sekmai Ningthou as their Umanglai, which are the symbols of iron.
Genealogy
The population of Kakching Khunou was composed of 15 Yumnaks each Yumnak settling as a group under one elder known as Piba, altogether intertwined and also intermingled with one another up to 1886. The 15 Yumnaks are : Moreover, the following Brahman clans who settled down permanently as Sevayets of the Deities, worshiped by these people when they were converted into Hinduism, are also found in kakching Khunou. The clans are –
Kakchingtabam
Hidangmayum
Aribam
Gotimayum
Gurumayum
In the later years many individuals of different clans came to Kakching Khunou and settled down permanently. They are:
Religion
The pre-historic religion of the Kakchings prior to their arrival at Uripok cannot be traced, but it can definitely be counted that they adopted the Meitei religion before their conversion into Hinduism. In describing the Kakching Lois, Capt. E.W.Dun in his book, Gazetteer of Manipur had quoted the writings of Sir James Johnstone in connection with their religion,
"..they were Lois but now called themselves Hindoos, having some time since 1867 been adopted into the Hindoo community by the Rajah, and they give themselves all the airs of Hindoos!"
The people of Kakching Khunou also worship "Ibudhou Khamlangba" and "Ibudhou Sekmai Ningthou" as their Umanglai which are the symbols of iron. The majority of the population follows Hinduism. Some follow the old Meitei religion of Sanamahism and a minuscule section of the population has embraced Christianity.
There is a Primary Health Center at Kakching Khunou.
General information
The nearest Post Office and Police Station are at Kakching and Waikhong respectively. There is a Branch Post Office at Kakching Khunou. The bordering villages are Waikhong, Wangoo, Wangjing Khunou, Lengangching, New Chayang, Aihang and Tokpaching.
Trivia
It is among the largest producers of food grains in Manipur.
The Shiv Temple Mondum Mahadeva is situated 5 km away from the town.
