Usman Gani Basei: A Meitei Pangal Radio Playwright

Dr. Syed Ahmed *

Ho...ho...ho...ho...aa...aa...aa...aa
Ngaikhigadara laklaroidaba mabu
Yengkhisirane aibu thaja nongil anigi kumhei
Kapkhigadara ningsingduna wari
Chatlasirane aibu kaina meichak puduna
Meragi thabal, saratki purnima
Basanta, hemanta
Menglaba ritu
Oirare aingonda olang meisa...

This timeless classic Manipuri song, sung by Yangnu Golmei (lyrics by Biramani Heisnamba), is my all-time favourite. I was introduced to this song by All India Radio - Imphal. There are several other Manipuri songs of the 80s and 90s which I heard it on the radio.

Dr. Hamom Naba’s Ngairamge Eina Nangbu, Kunjabihari Sharma’s Unani Khanna Lakpani, Aheibam Shyam’s Nangbu Asum Ningsingduna Leire, Sagolsem Bishwarup’s Poinu Loubuk Uraga, to name a few, are also in my list of favourites. These songs bring back memories of my youth.

Radio was the most important medium of entertainment till television became popular in Manipur. In a way, television killed the popularity of radio. I still remember when my mother, sisters and aunties would hurry to complete their domestic chores before 12 noon every Sunday so as to free themselves and gather to listen to radio plays.

I can still recollect some of the popular radio plays, such as Moiranthem Inao’s tragic romance, Anuradhapurgi Ashramgi Rajkumar, Ingelgi Atiya, Sarat Chandra’s Devdas, Dr. Kamal’s Urirei Madhavi, G.C. Tongbra’s comedy play, Echasa Eapa Lamboirage, etc.

Usman Gani is that very rare Meitei Pangal of Manipur who has been writing radio plays since his college days. Some of his popular radio plays broadcasted by All India Radio-Imphal, and Diamond Radio, Khongjom, include:

1. Karballagi Lan: First broadcasted on 22nd October (Sunday) 2006, AIR-Imphal
2. Khuga Turelgi Hiranbi: First broadcasted on 2nd September (Sunday) 2007, AIR-Imphal
3. Ahingsina Loikhrabada: First broadcasted on 14th October (Sunday) 2007, AIR-Imphal
4. Ningsing Mahal: First broadcasted on 11th May (Sunday) 2008, AIR-Imphal
5. Ashit Awanthagi Nonglei: First broadcasted on 29th August (Sunday) 2010, AIR-Imphal
6. Ngasigi Ahingshina: First broadcasted on 4th December (Sunday) 2011, AIR-Imphal
7. Changyeng Amagidamak: First broadcasted on 20th July (Sunday) 2014, AIR-Imphal
8. Nonggalle: First broadcasted on 18th May (Sunday) 2021, Diamond Radio, Khongjom

He has also written few more radio-plays which have not been broadcasted so far. The titles of the plays include Nongjuthagi Ahingsina, Ningtambagi Mihuthongda and Kanada Tainaruni.

Usman Gani has also written a handful of Sumang Lilas (courtyard play), namely Kanagi Maralno (performed by Dedicated World Artist Association at Manipur Sumang Lila Festival, 2011), Engel Lei (also performed by Dedicated World Artist Association at Manipur Sumang Lila Festival, 2012) and Maikhum (staged at Manipur Sumang Lila Festival, 2013).

Usman Gani was born to Late Haji Jalil and Late Hajibi Nasira in 1967 at Phoubakchao, Imphal West. He belongs to Baseimayum sagei. He completed B.Sc from Kha-Manipur College, Kakching.

At present, he is serving as a Graduate Teacher in the Education Department. He informed me that he started writing radio plays from his college days. For him, Moirangthem Inao’s Nirupama, Anuradhapur Ashramgi Rajkumar, Happy Birthday Julie are some of his favourite plays.

Usman Gani also dabbled in religious writings and narrations over the years. He has released audio cassettes on popular stories from Islamic history, such as Kisa-e-Hajrat Musa (2 hours narration), Karbalagi Maidalda (1 hour narration), etc.

He has also written numerous Manipuri Marifat, a type of songs sung without musical instruments, based on Islamic themes, with an aim to inform the basic tenets and history of Islam to the ordinary Meetei Pangals. It may be mentioned that Marifat was introduced in Manipur by the Meitei Pangals of Cachar District, Assam, several decades ago.

In 2020, Usman Gani published an Islamic literature, entitled Hajrat Yusuf Aleihis Salamgi Wari (The Story of Hazrat Yusuf). The book, published by Kutub Khana Imdadiya, Darul Uloom Markaz, Haoreibi, Lilong, is based on the story of Prophet Joseph (Yusuf) mentioned in the Quran.

In fact, the 12th sura (chapter) is named Sura Joseph. The book is forwarded by several religious scholars, including the prominent Mufti Siraj Ahmed Kasmi, former Mohtamim Darul Uloom Markaz, Moulana Mufti Ataulhaque, Mudaris Darul Uloom Markaz, Moulana Mufti Amirul Islam, Naib-Imam Jame Masjid, Imphal, among others.

Usman Gani is a member of Writers’ Union, Imphal, a literary body which has been publishing Manipuri literature on various genres and organizing literary programmes for several decades. He is planning to compile his radio plays into a book, which will soon be published by the Union.