Sibuta (-) was a Lushai chief. He is known for declaring independence from the sovereignty of

Hill Tipperah Tripura State, also known as Hill Tipperah, was a princely state in India during the period of the British Raj and for some two years after the departure of the British. Its rulers belonged to the Manikya dynasty and until Augu ...

and his cruelty as a chief.

Early life

Sibuta was the adopted son of a chief. Some accounts argue him to be an illegitimate son of Purburha while another argues him to be a captive of Chief Darpida. The chief recorded as his adoptive father is disputed. Reasons for why he was adopted has varied according to different sources. However, most agree that Sibuta was the brother of the chief's daughter Darlalpuii. Darlalpuii would incessantly bully and torture Sibuta. Resisting lashing out against her, Sibuta warned her that one day if he becomes chief she will regret her treatment of him. Sibuta around the age of eight soon begot a brother under the chief who would claim legitimacy as the next chief. Accounts record that Sibuta learnt how to handle poison and mix it into his father's zu. As for his brother, Sibuta took him to the fields and killed him. He would claim that his brother fell from a tree while trying to get a bird he had killed and had died in an unfortunate accident. Sibuta thus assumed power as chief.

Chieftainship

As chief Sibuta migrated into

around 1794. Sibuta was married and he removed Darlalpuii and her husband from the chief's house. One time, Sibuta was visited by Lalngura, who was fond of Darlalpuii. Lalngura offered to take Darlalpuii's hand in marriage. However Sibuta simply replied that he had to complete the Khuangchawi ceremony first.

Darlalpuii Khuangchawi festival

Sibuta, as chief, was due to perform the Khuangchawi ceremony. While this normally was done with a

mithun Mithun is another name for the gayal, a species of cattle. Mithun, Midhun or Mithen or Mrithun can also refer to: Organisations *Mithun, Inc, an American integrated design firm *Mithun Agency, an American advertising agency People Given name * ...

, Sibuta instead used Darlalpuii as the sacrifice. Unlike the killing of his father and brother, Sibuta wished brutality for the death of Darlalpuii. Darlalpuii was bound and marched along with the bulls without rest. Darlalpuii's mother attempted to feed Darlalpuii water but Sibuta stopped her and threw the gourd of water to the ground. The villager's quenched Darlalpuii's thirst in secret. After the march was complete, Sibuta ordered Darlalpuii's clothes to be removed and for her bareskin to be beaten with sticks and cane. Darlalpuii was tied to the ''Seluphan'' (sacrificial post). In front of his subjects Sibuta killed Darlalpuii with a spiked bamboo spear into her neck. Her head was decapitated and hung up on top of the sacrificial post. The villagers, afraid of Sibuta's cruelty, did not protest him. Lalngura heard the news and visited Darlalpuii's mother. Lalngura hearing the recounting of the event drew his ''Dao'' ready to kill Sibuta. However, Darlalpuii's mother stated that the ''upa'' would support Sibuta and lead to both of their deaths for any retaliation. Lalngura however was determined to take revenge. The next day Lalngura took his ''dao'' and made his way to Sibuta. However on the way he saw Darlalpuii's head hanging in the courtyard of the chief's gate. This enraged Lalngura. Lalngura asked the ''upas'' of Sibuta's whereabouts. Knowing that Sibuta was in danger they stated that Sibuta was at the jhum fields. Lalngura went and searched for Sibuta but could not find him. Sibuta continued to rule however bad luck began to take on Sibuta. Sibuta began to experience a fear of ''ramhuai''(evil spirits). Seeing this as a bad omen, Sibuta believed he was to die soon. Thus Sibuta decided to build a great monument for his legacy as a chief. A large stone was found which the villagers extracted off Tacchip mountain with knives, axes and iron rods. The stone was too heavy to be moved by the villagers. Sibuta thus decided to appease the Gods by killing three of his subjects and smearing their blood on the rock. Through sheer effort the rock was moved. Sibuta finally placed a living subject in the pit and placed the rock on top of them. Hence Sibuta's monument the Sibuta Lung cost four lives to establish.

Genology

Reference

Sources