MK Binodini 100th Birth Centenary : Two Books launched

Imphal, 6 February 2022

TWO BOOKS BY MK BINODINI DEVI LAUNCHED
ON HER BIRTH CENTENARY AT
SRI SRI GOVINDAJIU BY IMASI FOUNDATION
Wari Macha Binodinigi
The complete collected short stories in Meitei Mayek
Nil Sandhyar Agun Megh
The Bangla translation of Asangba Nongjabi and Sri Bhavana

The MK Binodini Devi Centenary was launched by Imasi: The Maharaj Kumari Binodini Devi Foundation with the publication of two new books by the eminent Manipuri writer on her 100th birth anniversary. The centenary celebrations will see events by literary groups and institutions of Manipur and beyond, headed by the MK Binodini Centenary Committee instituted in 2021. It will be held over the course of the next 12 months.

Shri La. Ganesan, Hon. Governor of Manipur tweeted: “Extremely exuberant to extend my sincere greetings on the 100th anniversary of Maharaj Kumari Binodini Devi. Cultural Confluence is being organised as veneration to her sublime literary imprint that exhibits her deep moving ethos on social and cultural fabric of Manipur.”

The new books by Binodini were launched with prayers and offerings by MK. Binodini's close relatives of Imasi Foundation at the singgar arti to Lord Govindaji at Sri Sri Govindajiu Temple of Sana Konung, the Royal Palace of Manipur. “It is especially meaningful for us to offer prayers for my late Imacha on her 100th anniversary at the Sana Konung because this was where she was born and where she grew up offering services to Lord Govindaji,” said Thoidingjam Lakshmipriya Devi, the daughter of MK Angousana Devi, older sister of MK Binodini Devi, and the eldest grandchild of Maharaja Churachand

Binodinigi was an emotional journey for me as it brings her stories in her first book Nunggairakta Chandramukhi that I read as a boy, along with her unpublished short stories, to today’s young readers,” said Roy.

"We thank Amit Das and Imasi Foundation Adviser Satyajit Aribam of EV Mobility, and Rahul Manav of Samyak Entrepreneurs, for their support for this and other centenary publications." Wari Macha Binodinigi is published by Imasi Publications in Meitei Mayek for use by students. The original stories in Nungairakta Chandramukhi, included in Wari Macha Binodinigi, have recently been added to the curriculum at Manipur University.

It is the third volume of unpublished works by MK Binodini Devi to be brought out by Imasi Foundation, after Isei Binodinigi of her songs and Khonjel Lila Binodinigi of her radio plays. Imasi Foundation Trustee Huidrom Anuradha noted, “By publishing new books by Imacha, we advance the mission of Imasi Foundation to protect, preserve, and promote the legacy of MK Binodini Devi. Bringing Nunggairakta Chandramukhi back into circulation along with stories she was not able to publish during her lifetime, is the highest and most intimate tribute we can pay to the writer known to her many sons and daughters of Manipur as Imasi."

Bhasha Samsad's publication of Nil Sandhyar Agun Megh, a translation of the writer's renowned play Asangba Nongjabi by Minati Ghosh, with L. Somi Roy, is the first publication of the works of MK Binodini Devi in Bangla. "We at Bhasha Samsad and Minati Ghosh whose translations we have had to pleasure of publishing over the years, are proud to have produced such a landmark book," said Bitasta Ghoshal, Founder and CEO of Bhasha Samsad.

"That we introduce Maharaj Kumari Binodini to the Bangla reading public with two works in the book - Nil Sandhyar Agun Megh and Sri Bhavana - that are rooted in Bengal's Santiniketan, will deeply touch all her readers in Bengal. We feel so close to Manipur and the Maharaj Kumari that our publication is launched at Lord Govindaji by her family on the Centenary. The eminent writer so deeply loved Rabindranath Tagore and Bangla literature that it makes it an special honour for us to be part of remembering her through her words and works. We bow our heads to Lord Govindaji and to the Maharaj Kumari from Bengal."

Information on the books is now available on Imasi Books, the new web portal www.imasi.org/imasibooks/ which also launches today. "We believe that bringing together the publications of Imasi Foundation as well as other publishing houses what have brought out works by Imasi Binodini on a unified web portal is an important step towards bringing her works to an even larger public in Manipur as well as outside the state," said Rakesh Konjengbam of IngenixEducare and the incoming Educational Adviser of Imasi Foundation.

Imasi Foundation Advisor Wangam Somorjit added, "These books by Inemsi Sana Wangol will be a tremendous resource to scholars and literary groups of Manipur and Bengal. The Meitei Mayek publications of Imasi Foundation, such as like Wari Macha Binodinigi, Churachand Maharajgi Imung, Isei Binodinigi, and Crimson Rainclouds from Thema Books, fill an essential need for today's younger generations who can read Manipuri only in Meitei Mayek. It is only with these books that they will be able to read MK Binodini Devi in her original Manipuri."

MK Binodini Devi Centenary events may also be found on the web portal
www.imasi.org/binodinicentenary/

For Wari Macha Binodinigi and other works by Binodini, please visit Amazon or Flipkart or
www.imasi.org/imasibooks. You can also write to imasibooks@gmail.com.

For Nil Sandhyar Agun Megh, please visit www.bhashasamsad.com
or Whatsapp 9830329558. It is also available at all major bookstores in Kolkata, and on Amazon and Flipkart.

For more information:
L. Somi Roy, Imasi Foundation Founder Trustee
Wangam Somorjit, Imasi Foundation Advisory Council
imasibooks@gmail.com
imasifoundationarchive@gmail.com
info@imasi.org
www.imasi.org