NCERT Textbook: Who Will Be Ningthou? | English Marigold Class 5 PDF Download

 Page 1


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Long, long ago, in the land of 
Kangleipak in Manipur, there lived a 
Ningthou and a Leima. They were loved 
dearly by the people.
 The Ningthou and Leima, on their part, never stopped 
thinking about their meeyam, their people. “Our meeyam 
should be happy,” they said. 
The people were not the only ones who loved their 
Ningthou and Leima. The birds and animals too loved 
them. The Ningthou and Leima always said: “Everybody 
in Kangleipak should live in peace. Not only the people, 
but the birds, animals and trees.”
 Their beloved king and queen had three sons: 
Sanajaoba, Sanayaima and Sanatomba.
 Twelve years later, a daughter was born. She 
was named Sanatombi. She was a lovely child, 
soft and beautiful inside. She was loved by 
one and all.
 The years went by, and the children grew 
up well. And then one day, the Ningthou 
called all his ministers and said: “It is now 
A king is called a Ningthou 
and a queen is called a Leima 
in Manipuri. This is a story 
from Manipur about what qualities 
make a good ruler. 
Who will be Ningthou?
Marigold
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Page 2


Read and Enjoy
Long, long ago, in the land of 
Kangleipak in Manipur, there lived a 
Ningthou and a Leima. They were loved 
dearly by the people.
 The Ningthou and Leima, on their part, never stopped 
thinking about their meeyam, their people. “Our meeyam 
should be happy,” they said. 
The people were not the only ones who loved their 
Ningthou and Leima. The birds and animals too loved 
them. The Ningthou and Leima always said: “Everybody 
in Kangleipak should live in peace. Not only the people, 
but the birds, animals and trees.”
 Their beloved king and queen had three sons: 
Sanajaoba, Sanayaima and Sanatomba.
 Twelve years later, a daughter was born. She 
was named Sanatombi. She was a lovely child, 
soft and beautiful inside. She was loved by 
one and all.
 The years went by, and the children grew 
up well. And then one day, the Ningthou 
called all his ministers and said: “It is now 
A king is called a Ningthou 
and a queen is called a Leima 
in Manipuri. This is a story 
from Manipur about what qualities 
make a good ruler. 
Who will be Ningthou?
Marigold
1 6 3
Reprint 2024-25
time to decide the Tunggi Ningthou, the 
future king.”
 The ministers were shocked. “But O 
Ningthou, what is there to decide? Sanajaoba, 
your eldest son, will be our future king.”
 “Well,” the Ningthou replied. “That’s how it 
happened in the old days. The eldest son always 
became the king. But times have changed. So let us 
select a king who is most worthy of becoming a 
king.”
 “We will have a contest to select the future king,” 
the Leima said. And so, in the land of Kangleipak, 
there was a contest, a horse race. Whoever reached 
the khongnang, the banyan tree, first would be 
declared Tunggi Ningthou.
 But then, a strange thing happened. Sanajaoba, 
Sanayaima and Sanatomba  all three of them 
finished the race together. They were expert riders 
and all three reached the finish line at the same 
time!
 There was great excitement. “Look at them!” 
the people shouted. “Shagol thauba nupa, such 
fine horsemen!”
 But one question remained: Who would be 
the Tunggi Ningthou?
 The Ningthou and Leima turned 
t o t h e i r s o n s . T h e N i n g t h o u 
said, “Sanajaoba, Sanayaima and 
Sanatomba, you have proved that you
Marigold
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Reprint 2024-25
Page 3


Read and Enjoy
Long, long ago, in the land of 
Kangleipak in Manipur, there lived a 
Ningthou and a Leima. They were loved 
dearly by the people.
 The Ningthou and Leima, on their part, never stopped 
thinking about their meeyam, their people. “Our meeyam 
should be happy,” they said. 
The people were not the only ones who loved their 
Ningthou and Leima. The birds and animals too loved 
them. The Ningthou and Leima always said: “Everybody 
in Kangleipak should live in peace. Not only the people, 
but the birds, animals and trees.”
 Their beloved king and queen had three sons: 
Sanajaoba, Sanayaima and Sanatomba.
 Twelve years later, a daughter was born. She 
was named Sanatombi. She was a lovely child, 
soft and beautiful inside. She was loved by 
one and all.
 The years went by, and the children grew 
up well. And then one day, the Ningthou 
called all his ministers and said: “It is now 
A king is called a Ningthou 
and a queen is called a Leima 
in Manipuri. This is a story 
from Manipur about what qualities 
make a good ruler. 
Who will be Ningthou?
Marigold
1 6 3
Reprint 2024-25
time to decide the Tunggi Ningthou, the 
future king.”
 The ministers were shocked. “But O 
Ningthou, what is there to decide? Sanajaoba, 
your eldest son, will be our future king.”
 “Well,” the Ningthou replied. “That’s how it 
happened in the old days. The eldest son always 
became the king. But times have changed. So let us 
select a king who is most worthy of becoming a 
king.”
 “We will have a contest to select the future king,” 
the Leima said. And so, in the land of Kangleipak, 
there was a contest, a horse race. Whoever reached 
the khongnang, the banyan tree, first would be 
declared Tunggi Ningthou.
 But then, a strange thing happened. Sanajaoba, 
Sanayaima and Sanatomba  all three of them 
finished the race together. They were expert riders 
and all three reached the finish line at the same 
time!
 There was great excitement. “Look at them!” 
the people shouted. “Shagol thauba nupa, such 
fine horsemen!”
 But one question remained: Who would be 
the Tunggi Ningthou?
 The Ningthou and Leima turned 
t o t h e i r s o n s . T h e N i n g t h o u 
said, “Sanajaoba, Sanayaima and 
Sanatomba, you have proved that you
Marigold
1 6 4
Reprint 2024-25
are fine horsemen. Do something different each one of 
you, so that we can decide who will be Tunggi Ningthou.”
 Suddenly, Sanajaoba mounted his horse and held his 
spear straight in front of him. He looked around. There 
was a hush among people. “What is Sanajaoba, the 
eldest, going to do? They thought to themselves.
 Sanajaoba then looked at the huge khongnang 
standing majestically in the distance. He pierced the tree 
and jumped his horse right through it!
 “Bravo! Bravo!” The people shouted. “Thouro! Thouro!” 
And then they fell silent.
 Now it was the turn of the second son, Sanayaima. 
What would he do? Sanayaima too looked at the 
khongnang as he mounted his horse. Then he too rode 
towards the tree, harder and harder. The people watched 
in silence, afraid even to breathe. When he was really 
close, he urged his horse to jump. Higher and higher the 
horse rose until horse and rider jumped clear over the 
huge tree and landed on the other side in a wonderful 
motion. 
 The people breathed in relief and said in unison: 
“Phajei ! Phajei !  Wonderful ! Wonderful !
 And now, it was the turn of the youngest son, 
Sanatomba. He, too, rode his horse towards the 
khongnang and, before anybody knew what was 
happening, uprooted it. Triumphantly he carried the tree 
to the Ningthou and Leima and laid it at their feet!
 Shouts of Thouro ! Thouro ! Phajei ! Phajei !” filled the 
mountains.
 The people grew restless. Why were the Ningthou and 
the Leima taking so long to make the announcement? 
Marigold
1 6 5
Reprint 2024-25
Page 4


Read and Enjoy
Long, long ago, in the land of 
Kangleipak in Manipur, there lived a 
Ningthou and a Leima. They were loved 
dearly by the people.
 The Ningthou and Leima, on their part, never stopped 
thinking about their meeyam, their people. “Our meeyam 
should be happy,” they said. 
The people were not the only ones who loved their 
Ningthou and Leima. The birds and animals too loved 
them. The Ningthou and Leima always said: “Everybody 
in Kangleipak should live in peace. Not only the people, 
but the birds, animals and trees.”
 Their beloved king and queen had three sons: 
Sanajaoba, Sanayaima and Sanatomba.
 Twelve years later, a daughter was born. She 
was named Sanatombi. She was a lovely child, 
soft and beautiful inside. She was loved by 
one and all.
 The years went by, and the children grew 
up well. And then one day, the Ningthou 
called all his ministers and said: “It is now 
A king is called a Ningthou 
and a queen is called a Leima 
in Manipuri. This is a story 
from Manipur about what qualities 
make a good ruler. 
Who will be Ningthou?
Marigold
1 6 3
Reprint 2024-25
time to decide the Tunggi Ningthou, the 
future king.”
 The ministers were shocked. “But O 
Ningthou, what is there to decide? Sanajaoba, 
your eldest son, will be our future king.”
 “Well,” the Ningthou replied. “That’s how it 
happened in the old days. The eldest son always 
became the king. But times have changed. So let us 
select a king who is most worthy of becoming a 
king.”
 “We will have a contest to select the future king,” 
the Leima said. And so, in the land of Kangleipak, 
there was a contest, a horse race. Whoever reached 
the khongnang, the banyan tree, first would be 
declared Tunggi Ningthou.
 But then, a strange thing happened. Sanajaoba, 
Sanayaima and Sanatomba  all three of them 
finished the race together. They were expert riders 
and all three reached the finish line at the same 
time!
 There was great excitement. “Look at them!” 
the people shouted. “Shagol thauba nupa, such 
fine horsemen!”
 But one question remained: Who would be 
the Tunggi Ningthou?
 The Ningthou and Leima turned 
t o t h e i r s o n s . T h e N i n g t h o u 
said, “Sanajaoba, Sanayaima and 
Sanatomba, you have proved that you
Marigold
1 6 4
Reprint 2024-25
are fine horsemen. Do something different each one of 
you, so that we can decide who will be Tunggi Ningthou.”
 Suddenly, Sanajaoba mounted his horse and held his 
spear straight in front of him. He looked around. There 
was a hush among people. “What is Sanajaoba, the 
eldest, going to do? They thought to themselves.
 Sanajaoba then looked at the huge khongnang 
standing majestically in the distance. He pierced the tree 
and jumped his horse right through it!
 “Bravo! Bravo!” The people shouted. “Thouro! Thouro!” 
And then they fell silent.
 Now it was the turn of the second son, Sanayaima. 
What would he do? Sanayaima too looked at the 
khongnang as he mounted his horse. Then he too rode 
towards the tree, harder and harder. The people watched 
in silence, afraid even to breathe. When he was really 
close, he urged his horse to jump. Higher and higher the 
horse rose until horse and rider jumped clear over the 
huge tree and landed on the other side in a wonderful 
motion. 
 The people breathed in relief and said in unison: 
“Phajei ! Phajei !  Wonderful ! Wonderful !
 And now, it was the turn of the youngest son, 
Sanatomba. He, too, rode his horse towards the 
khongnang and, before anybody knew what was 
happening, uprooted it. Triumphantly he carried the tree 
to the Ningthou and Leima and laid it at their feet!
 Shouts of Thouro ! Thouro ! Phajei ! Phajei !” filled the 
mountains.
 The people grew restless. Why were the Ningthou and 
the Leima taking so long to make the announcement? 
Marigold
1 6 5
Reprint 2024-25
They craned their necks to see what was happening.
 The Ningthou and Leima were watching Sanatombi, 
their five year-old daughter. She looked sad and lonely. 
She stared at the khongnang which lay dead by the 
throne. Birds flapped worriedly around, searching for 
their homes in the tree. Sanatombi walked up to the 
khongnang and whispered, “The khongnang is dead. It 
was hurt by the spear and now it is dead.”
 The people were all attention. The Ningthou stood up. 
He looked at the three boys. He looked at the little girl. He 
turned to the people. “If anybody is worthy of becoming 
the ruler,” he said, “it is little Sanatombi. It was she who 
Marigold
1 6 6
Reprint 2024-25
Page 5


Read and Enjoy
Long, long ago, in the land of 
Kangleipak in Manipur, there lived a 
Ningthou and a Leima. They were loved 
dearly by the people.
 The Ningthou and Leima, on their part, never stopped 
thinking about their meeyam, their people. “Our meeyam 
should be happy,” they said. 
The people were not the only ones who loved their 
Ningthou and Leima. The birds and animals too loved 
them. The Ningthou and Leima always said: “Everybody 
in Kangleipak should live in peace. Not only the people, 
but the birds, animals and trees.”
 Their beloved king and queen had three sons: 
Sanajaoba, Sanayaima and Sanatomba.
 Twelve years later, a daughter was born. She 
was named Sanatombi. She was a lovely child, 
soft and beautiful inside. She was loved by 
one and all.
 The years went by, and the children grew 
up well. And then one day, the Ningthou 
called all his ministers and said: “It is now 
A king is called a Ningthou 
and a queen is called a Leima 
in Manipuri. This is a story 
from Manipur about what qualities 
make a good ruler. 
Who will be Ningthou?
Marigold
1 6 3
Reprint 2024-25
time to decide the Tunggi Ningthou, the 
future king.”
 The ministers were shocked. “But O 
Ningthou, what is there to decide? Sanajaoba, 
your eldest son, will be our future king.”
 “Well,” the Ningthou replied. “That’s how it 
happened in the old days. The eldest son always 
became the king. But times have changed. So let us 
select a king who is most worthy of becoming a 
king.”
 “We will have a contest to select the future king,” 
the Leima said. And so, in the land of Kangleipak, 
there was a contest, a horse race. Whoever reached 
the khongnang, the banyan tree, first would be 
declared Tunggi Ningthou.
 But then, a strange thing happened. Sanajaoba, 
Sanayaima and Sanatomba  all three of them 
finished the race together. They were expert riders 
and all three reached the finish line at the same 
time!
 There was great excitement. “Look at them!” 
the people shouted. “Shagol thauba nupa, such 
fine horsemen!”
 But one question remained: Who would be 
the Tunggi Ningthou?
 The Ningthou and Leima turned 
t o t h e i r s o n s . T h e N i n g t h o u 
said, “Sanajaoba, Sanayaima and 
Sanatomba, you have proved that you
Marigold
1 6 4
Reprint 2024-25
are fine horsemen. Do something different each one of 
you, so that we can decide who will be Tunggi Ningthou.”
 Suddenly, Sanajaoba mounted his horse and held his 
spear straight in front of him. He looked around. There 
was a hush among people. “What is Sanajaoba, the 
eldest, going to do? They thought to themselves.
 Sanajaoba then looked at the huge khongnang 
standing majestically in the distance. He pierced the tree 
and jumped his horse right through it!
 “Bravo! Bravo!” The people shouted. “Thouro! Thouro!” 
And then they fell silent.
 Now it was the turn of the second son, Sanayaima. 
What would he do? Sanayaima too looked at the 
khongnang as he mounted his horse. Then he too rode 
towards the tree, harder and harder. The people watched 
in silence, afraid even to breathe. When he was really 
close, he urged his horse to jump. Higher and higher the 
horse rose until horse and rider jumped clear over the 
huge tree and landed on the other side in a wonderful 
motion. 
 The people breathed in relief and said in unison: 
“Phajei ! Phajei !  Wonderful ! Wonderful !
 And now, it was the turn of the youngest son, 
Sanatomba. He, too, rode his horse towards the 
khongnang and, before anybody knew what was 
happening, uprooted it. Triumphantly he carried the tree 
to the Ningthou and Leima and laid it at their feet!
 Shouts of Thouro ! Thouro ! Phajei ! Phajei !” filled the 
mountains.
 The people grew restless. Why were the Ningthou and 
the Leima taking so long to make the announcement? 
Marigold
1 6 5
Reprint 2024-25
They craned their necks to see what was happening.
 The Ningthou and Leima were watching Sanatombi, 
their five year-old daughter. She looked sad and lonely. 
She stared at the khongnang which lay dead by the 
throne. Birds flapped worriedly around, searching for 
their homes in the tree. Sanatombi walked up to the 
khongnang and whispered, “The khongnang is dead. It 
was hurt by the spear and now it is dead.”
 The people were all attention. The Ningthou stood up. 
He looked at the three boys. He looked at the little girl. He 
turned to the people. “If anybody is worthy of becoming 
the ruler,” he said, “it is little Sanatombi. It was she who 
Marigold
1 6 6
Reprint 2024-25
told us to look at the soul of the khongnang. Sanatombi 
feels the pain of others. She feels the pain of the people, 
the animals, the birds, the trees.”
”I declare Sanatombi the future Leima of Kangleipak,” 
the Ningthou said. A silence fell. Everyone turned to look 
at the little girl, their future queen. There she stood, all of 
five, like a small khongnang, with birds flying all around 
her. They sat on her shoulders and on her head. She held 
out her hands full of grain and the birds flapped about 
her, pecking at the food.
 “A Leima is one who doesn’t hurt anybody in the 
kingdom.”
INDIRA MUKHERJEE
 
Marigold
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