Vangteh - Name

Name

It is sometimes spelled as Wunkathe, probably a mispronunciation by Burmese guides when the British came to the land for the first time, and also recorded as Vangte by contemporary writers as can be seen in the information provided by such as the Satellite Views, the Falling Rain Genomics, Inc., the Travel Post, and such.

In the local area, Vangteh is still known as a "khua-pi", in the language of the natives, "khua" generally means any human abode, big or small, and "pi" is a suffix meaning "large" in extent or "great" in character or "big" in size. Hence may be a reference to former greatness despite its very discouraging geographical situation in the mountainous Chin Hills, where elevations vary from 1500 and 2700 meters.

In common poetic expression, Vangteh is also addressed as "Khumhnuai", meaning "under the shade of Khumh", in respect of the peak of Khumh Mt. (Khumh Vum in local dialect), under its shade this ancient city is laid for centuries. For instance, in a poetic song composed by Mr. Ngul L. Zam, a villager of Vangteh, for an event commemorating the founding of Vangteh, Vangteh is directly attributed as Khumhnuai as seen in following:

Tuan aa pupa’ siahtaang kaihna, Khumhnuai ka Vang khua hi ee;

Zingvai hawmpih hanzai sakpih pawl le gual ih kim nam aw .

(Translation)

The Khumhnuai is my native town of Vang (short form for Vangteh), where forefathers collected their respective taxes and tributes;

Are we all here, friends and comrades, who usually join hands together in pains and in comforts?