What Does "Who Will Be Ningthou" Teach About Leadership?
This is a story from Manipur named “Who Will be Ningthou,” which tells us about the qualities that a good ruler must-have. The story briefs certain qualities that every ruler needs to have to make the kingdom happy. In this story, we can learn about the qualities of a good ruler.
Detailed Summary of Who Will be Ningthou
There was a King and Queen in Manipur whose names were Ningthou and Leima. They ruled the land of Kangleipak in Manipur. Both of them are nice and kind rulers. They both wish that the kingdom stays happy. Similarly, the people in the kingdom also adore their royalty and love them dearly.
The King and Queen have four children- three sons and one daughter named Sanatombi, who is a beautiful soul with a pure heart. Everyone in the kingdom loves the daughter of the King. The king wants to choose an heir for the kingdom, and everyone thinks it’ll be one of the sons. However, he chooses his daughter as an heir.
As he is growing old, he wants someone kind and empathetic to rule the kingdom. The King did not follow old customs. He wanted the future heir of the kingdom to be very honest and one who can solve the problems of the people in the kingdom. He was worried about his kingdom. That’s why the King chose his daughter as an heir to keep the kingdom happy after him.
He wanted to decide as to who will be the rightful heir, so he proceeded to test all the three sons. He wished to see if any of his sons possessed the qualities required to be a good ruler. However, the King concluded that the three sons are worthless. The king didn't want any of his three sons to be the heir.
He does not see any good qualities in his sons to keep the kingdom happy without problems and help it prosper under any of their leadership. Then he decides that his daughter Sanatombi will be the next heir of the kingdom. The daughter Sanatombi is twelve years old. Although she was just twelve years old, the king still decided to make her the queen of the kingdom.
He does so because she is a kind-hearted person and has good leadership qualities. She is empathetic, one who can feel the pain of the people of the kingdom. She treats everyone equally and cares about animals, birds, and even the trees. Everyone in the kingdom loves and adores her. So the people in the kingdom also agreed with the King’s decision and were quite content with their future queen.
Conclusion of Who Will be Ningthou
This story tells us about what qualities make a good ruler. The story briefs that to be a great ruler, one must be kind towards anyone be it animals, nature or people. We all must be empathetic to everyone to make our world a better place to live in.
FAQs on Who Will Be Ningthou Summary: Main Themes & Insights
1. What is the main summary of the story 'Who Will Be Ningthou'?
The story is about a king (Ningthou) and a queen (Leima) in Manipur who need to choose their successor. They decide to hold a contest for their three sons to see who is the worthiest. While the sons display their strength and skill, it is their young daughter, Sanatombi, who is chosen as the future ruler because she shows immense kindness and empathy for all living things, proving that compassion is the most important quality for a leader.
2. Who are the main characters in this story?
The main characters in 'Who Will Be Ningthou' are:
The Ningthou: The king of Kangleipak, who is wise and wants a truly deserving ruler to succeed him.
The Leima: The queen, who is equally loved and respected by the people (meeyam).
Sanajaoba, Sanayaima, and Sanatomba: The three sons of the king and queen, who are strong and skilled but lack deep compassion.
Sanatombi: The young daughter who is gentle, and loves birds, animals, and trees. Her empathy makes her the final choice for the future ruler.
3. Why did the Ningthou choose Sanatombi as the future Leima instead of one of his strong sons?
The Ningthou chose Sanatombi because she demonstrated the most important quality of a ruler: empathy. Her brothers proved their strength by piercing a tree and jumping over it, but they only showed physical power. Sanatombi, however, felt the pain of the uprooted banyan tree and cried for it. The Ningthou realised that a ruler who can feel the pain of their people, animals, and nature would be the kindest and most just leader.
4. What is the central theme or moral of 'Who Will Be Ningthou'?
The central theme of the story is that true leadership is not about physical strength, power, or might. Instead, the greatest qualities of a ruler are kindness, compassion, and empathy for all living beings. A good ruler must be able to feel the pain of others and care for everyone and everything in their kingdom, not just display their own abilities.
5. How does the story explain what makes a truly good leader?
The story explains that a good leader is someone who governs with their heart, not just their power. While the sons showed they could conquer and dominate (by piercing the tree), Sanatombi showed she could nurture and care (by feeling sorry for the tree). This illustrates that a true leader's responsibility is to protect and care for their kingdom and its inhabitants—people, animals, and nature—which requires a deep sense of empathy and love.
6. What is the importance of the banyan tree (Khongnang) in the story?
The banyan tree, or Khongnang, is very important as it serves as the final test of character. It represents life, nature, and the kingdom itself. The sons see it as an object to demonstrate their strength upon, but Sanatombi sees it as a living being that is hurting. Her ability to feel sorrow for the tree symbolises her ability to feel for her kingdom. It proves that she values life above shows of power, making it the key element that reveals the true future ruler.
7. What are some important Manipuri words from the chapter and what do they mean?
Here are some important words from the story, which is set in Manipur:
Ningthou: The title for a king.
Leima: The title for a queen.
Meeyam: The people or the subjects of the kingdom.
Khongnang: A banyan tree, which is a sacred and important tree.
Tunggi Ningthou: The future king.
