THE KHAMPAT BÛNG (KHAMPAT BANYAN) KHAMPAT BÛNG is one of the historical landmarks of the HMAR and their kindred tribes particularly the LUSEIS. Khampat is the name of a locality in Burma. It is situated on the road-side in between KALEMYO & TAMU at about 75kms 4rm KALEMYO. som writers tell us that KALEMYO was founded by SHAN KING,SAWBUA SAW NI KHAN. another king, SAWBUA SAW KHAN TI built TINTA(tangsa) & SAWBUA SAW MAING KHAN established a city at KALEMYO. it was also stated that KHAMPAT, in SHAN or THAI language means "GOLDEN NECKLACE". At one time,the HMAR forefathers and other kindred tribes lived around this place. Similar stories have been told by lusei elders. This means that they lived together peacefully in the same locality or side by side as close neighbours. The traditional stories & songs of the HMARS tell us that their forefathers inhabited alarge area and established a big village at KHAMPAT. Here ruled the first great leader whom they called RÊNG. He was actually regarded as RÊNGPUI. He had an Associate or a Deputy named LUOPUI a member 4rm the ȚHIEK sub-tribe of HMAR. LUOPUI was also regarded as RÊNGTE(Minor king). On the southern region another RÊNGTE named LERSI ruled at SHANZAWL. He was amember of FAIHRIEM sub-tribe of HMAR. On the northern region at FAILING ruled another RÊNGTE named ZÎNGTHLO, Mr J.Malsawma,M.A.,B.L., one of the first Advocates among the HMARS said that descendent of HIMATLEI who reigned on the hill of THINGTIN in Burma. Zingthlo was the anchestor of FIENGPUILAL of the Biete sub-tribe of HMAR ruled. LUOPUI occupied the central place. As LUOPUI Planted the sapling of Banyan tree they sang or chanted- "KA RAM AW LO NUOR NAW RAWH,RAM ZÂWLHAWI LO NUOR NAW RAWH, LENBUONGPU(BÛNG) ȚHA KÛR INTHANGIN, PÂR PUOLRÂNGIN FÎM NI" (O MY LORD,DON'T BE DISHEARTENED, PLEASANT PLAIN LAND,DON'T BE DISHEARTENED,BANYAN WILL FLOURISH WITH LONG BRANCHES SAGGING, HORNBILLS WILL SURELY SIP(ENJOY) ITS NECTAR(FLOWER).. The HMARS lived for along time at KHAMPAT. The Banyan tree had grown big and hornbills came 4rm the west and fed on the fruits. So, they composed another song: "SIM-AH LERSI,HMARAH ZINGTHLO,KHAW MALAIAH LUOPUI-LUOPUIINLÊNBÛNG A PHUN,THLANGA PUOLPÂNGIN TLÂN E," (ON THE SOUTH LERSI,ON THE NORTH ZINGTHLO,IN THE MIDDLE/CENTRAL PLACE LUOPUI,LUOPUI PLANTED LÊNBÛNG, HORNBILLS OF THE WEST FEED ON ITS FRUITS." It was composed in ȚHIEK dialect, ȚHIEK dialect is considered to be the oldest HMAR dialect as the Anglo saxon of the English language. The Luseis also used to sing similar traditional song: "KA PHUN DAWI AI KA SÂNNA,MI KHAWIH LOH,SA KHAWIH LOH, ȚHANGIN LIAN LA,KHUANULENG HUALIN, I ȚANGZÂRIN PIALLEI A ZAWM TIKAH,SEIFATEN VÂNGKHUA RAWN DIN LEH NÂNGE." ("I PLANTED THE TREE OF MY DIVINATION,UNTOUCHED BY MAN,UNTOUCHED BY ANIMAL, GROW BIG BY THE PROVIDENCE OF KHUANULÊNG (nature god). WHEN YOUR BRANCH TOUCHES THE GROUND LET OFFSPRINGS OF SEI(Lusei) ESTABLISH ABODE AGAIN). Eventhough BÛNG is not named in the Song, the composer certainly meant the same Banyan tree. Some sing "SEIFATEN" as "SAIVATÊN" that will mean the descendents of SAIVATE clan of FAIHRIEM sub-tribe of HMAR. The planter of the wonder tree has been named differently by different writers. According to Pu Lalmawia it was Pu Hâa,and to Rev.C.Rosiama it was Pupuha. According to Rev.Dengkung it was the Lusei chief. And according to Mizo historian V.Lunghnema and Hmar Historians like (L)Hranglien,L.Keivom, J.Bâtlien etc and the Hmar traditional song it was "LUOPUI" of the ȚHIEK sub-tribe of HMAR. recently, some of the Gangtes,the Paites etc also said that that they planted the Banyan tree. It is quite possible that the different communities planted Banyan trees in khampat. According to the Hmar traditional stories & songs, the HMAR rulers or community leaders lived in and around Khampat and the name of the person who planted the famous tree was clearly mentioned. This means that the different kindred tribes lived together in and around Khampat or side by side as close neighbours. The stories go on like this, the anchestors of the tribal people used to make certain Covenants, Pledges or Promises and used to take certain Oaths under the Shadow of this wonder tree. They belive that eventhough they had left the land,someday when the branch of the tree touches the ground they would go back here and prosper. Amazingly,the branch of the tree touched the ground in 1916. And after years had passed away, in 1952 the main branch had already broken,and another branch broke again suddenly. The cirumference of the trunk at the height of 4-feet, it was about 100-feet(hlam 18). The area covered by the branches must have been atleast one acre. The tree had been healthy and had been standing for a centuries. The way the branches broke so suddenly was very uncommon. There was no cyclonic storm in the night they broke. The branches broke as if they were broken by supernatural forces.