Lambi Asida |
A Manipuri novel written by P Joychandra, published by Kumarjit Singh on behalf of Writers' Association Ningthoukhong in 2001, price Rs 60/-, page 130. Cover illustrated by Konthoujam Pabitra Singh. Reviewed by: Konsam Kulladhwaja |
Plot: On the top of a hill there was a charity home. An old man called Kumar, the chief of the Home pays homage to a stone image of a man at the premises of the charity home in the first chapter. A boy called Sidam asked him why he is paying homage to the idol everyday, offering teardrops and incense sticks. The old man narrated the story to the boy that stretched back to 60 years. The story was centred around Imphal city. Gopal Babu, a rich man employed a young man called Gautam as a driver giving him facility of free food and shelter in his house. Gopal Babu had a son and a daughter called Binot and Surmila. Apart from Gautam, Amuba, Kumar and Chaoba were also employed in the same house as workers. Gautam and Surmila were in love. The love bond between the two got more intense as day, months went by. On the other hand Kumar wanted to woo Surmila away from Gautam. While he approached her Surmila refused saying that he is regarded as her own elder brother. In order to win Surmila, Kumar planned a secret plot, in consultation with Chaoba. While Gautam was out of station they wrote a demand letter of Rs One lakh making the letter look as if written by Gautam and gave it to Gopal. While Gopal went to hand over the money to the unidentified men, Kumar's party shot him dead. After the demise of his father Binot was provided misleading information by Kumar that Gautam could be the killer. So they planned to kill Gautam. One day during Yaoshang festival Binot and Kumar invited Gautam to a sight seeing programme. They went to Maring Khul. After boozing they quarelled on the issue of Gopal Babu's death. As the quarrel took shape of a fight Gautam fell to a gorge. After some time Surmila was in serious condition and dying day by day. At this juncture Kumar avoided the hope of winning Surmila's hand and left the house. Choaba wrote a letter telling all the truths about the plot of killing Gopal. Gautam came out in the guise of a priest. He came to know that Surmila was death. When Kumar's gang kidnapped a girl named Devala, Binot's fiancee and held her for ransom, Gautam snatched her and took her to the parents. Later all realised that Devala was the sister of Gautam. Their parents were killed in the Second World War and they were separated by fate. In the last meeting Kumar and his party were never considered by Gautam as enemy. But Gautam was shot to dead by Kumar. In the Kumar became a good man and established a charity home. So ended the novel. Kumar handed over Sidam the charge of chief and died peacefully. |
Courtesy: The Sangai Express |
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