Folk Tales of Manipur, Volume 1 : Book Review
James Oinam *
An illustration of 'Sandrembi and Chaisra' taken from a High School Textbook by BSEM
Folk Tales of Manipur, Volume 1
Author: Dr Haobam Bilashini
Publisher: Rajendra Sagolsem Publications Pvt. Ltd.
First Edition: 2009
No. of Pages: 143
The book under review has certain strong points not usually encountered in other similar collections. To begin with, the author makes an attempt to segregate the stories into certain categories which is reflected in the contents page:
A. Etiological Tales:
1. Sandrembi Cheishra;
2. Uchek Langmeidong (The Hornbill)
B. Magic Tales:
3. Widow's Son Chandrakangnan;
4. Lukhrabi Macha Hangoi Porabi (Toad, Widow’s Son);
5. Makok (Head);
6. Leibak-ki Lai (Fortune God);
7. The Girl and the Doll;
8. Old Man and Woman on the Moon
C. Moral Tales:
9. Yenakha Paodabi Saijin Polibi;
10. Eta Thaomei (My Dear Lamp);
11. Lai Khutsangbi (Long Armed Witch);
12. Keibu Keioiba;
13. Wit Competition;
14. Stupid Elder Brother;
15. Two Brothers;
16. Hanuba Hanubi Panthaba (Old Couple Growing Arum Plants);
17. Stupid Younger Brother;
18. The Stupid Son-in-law;
19. Napangbagi Imung (A Family of Deaf)
D. Tales of Animals and Birds:
20. The Sparrow Husband and Wife;
21. Khambrangchak Mapam Chatpa (my translation: Thrust (bird) Visits Her Birth-parents);
22. Tapta Has Come!;
23. Mapu Ningba Tenawa (The Faithful Parrot);
24. Lukhrabee Shamu Loibee (my translation: The Widow Who Kept an Elephant);
25. Houdong Lamboiba and Pebet (Sage Cat and Pebet)
The book has 24 line artworks pertaining to the stories, some of which are pretty good. Also, here and there, one finds old poems or verses which make this volume a priceless collection.
To quote one from the story of Keibu Keioiba:
Ho, Keibu Keioiba,
naning namang hotrong ho,
natu leima kangkok,
nachana meinungda,
nayum meina grung.
(Hey, Keibu Keioiba,
both ends hollow,
your wife vanished,
your child in fire,
your house gutted.)
I chose a relatively well-known verse here because it highlights some characteristics of the stories in this book.
First, the verses have old Manipuri words. The rhyme and poetry have their own charm. The translations are provided, so one need not worry. One might pick-up or brush-up some old Manipuri words here. For example, I didn’t know that there was a Manipuri word for pen, Khorjei.
Second, the stories seem to be older versions which are not bound by the social mores and political correctness. From the above song, one can see that the abducted girl Thabaton in the story has a child from Keibu Keioiba. This child she burns while she flees from the clutches of the monster with her brother.
This is not peculiar to Manipuri folktales. Such ‘abruptness’ can be seen many folktales all over the world, particularly in the older versions. For example, in the Little Red Riding Hood, the fox eats up the grandmother and impersonates her to catch the little girl.
In another story in the collection, we find the stupid younger brother pours boiling water on his mother, thereby killing her, because his elder brother asked him to give their mother a hot bath. Such narratives can make a small child laugh while adults might question moral correctness or propriety of such behaviours.
But then there are even some old people like me don’t miss the Ice Age movies where a cute and innocent bird steps over a volcano and-boom-turns into a grilled chicken, the kind you find on dining table, and find it funny. If you are that type, then give this book a try. Also, those of you who take interest in ancient traditional culture, I believe this to be worth collecting.
* James Oinam wrote this article for e-pao.net
The writer can be contacted at jamesoinam(AT)gmail(DOT0com
This article was webcasted on December 12, 2017.
* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.