Rebirth of Jodha Chandra Sanasam in Manipuri literature
- Part 1 -

Surjitkumar Loitam *

Jodha Chandra Sanasam

There is no doubt to say that Jodha Chandra Sanasam (1944-2021) was born twice in Manipuri literature. He wrote In fact it was not less than four years to bring out such a historic seminar. It was a great mission of long struggle facing several troubles and hardships to organise it successfully.

Somebody may comment that the organisation of any seminar is not a difficult one and any expert will contribute spontaneously their seminar papers as and when they are engaged. This is their view about the nature of the present day seminar. However in view of practical experiences, I wish them free from such troubles which we suffered a lot.

There was also a case to be considered unavoidably that it was the discretion of the learned scholars and respectable experts to accept or reject our request. Although there was the acceptance of the engagement, we are bound at the first stroke to face the trial of success or failure. It was always difficult to find the finished writings at the appointed time of our engagement.

It might be their inability to keep the assurance in time due to their personal engagement. Then we were compelled to make a fresh engagement, even then it was hardship to avail the positive result, and then we remained waiting for another date of appointment, again we failed to obtain our objective. Thus we tried to communicate with the respectable expert not less than four times, but he had expressed straight, 'Don't take me otherwise, it would not possible for me to accept your engagement, I suggest to engage another one.'

The expressions of the experts were different but the pain given by their wordings were same to some extent. We were facing such a number of incidents. Whenever there was a long gap of communication, we found some expert who said, 'I thought of the fact that you did not take up your programme or otherwise your programme was over, as for me, I took no step for preparation accordingly.'

Therefore, it is not an easy thing to collect articles from the writers concerned, in view of their whims and caprices. But we were never disheartened. We used to press them humbly again and again to obtain their articles.

In the case of financial problem, we were free from anxiety to some extent, because we were hopeful of our close friends and gentlemen to show their good gesture in our favour. Inspite of difficult experiences along our ceaseless journey, we found such opportune times that there were several respectable scholars and literary figures who were responsive to our approach to keep their commitment at the right time. In such circumstances, I can say that only those who had practical and personal experiences could understand the reality of my struggle.

In fact it was a difficult mission. Fortunately Jodha Chandra Sanasam knew the troubles and difficulties faced by me in those days. The moment when he came to know it, I could dare say that he was the happiest person.

Another unforgettable character of Jodha Chandra Sanasam is that he used to get himself involved in the organisation of his own functions and programmes instead of keeping himself aloof from the arrangements. It is, indeed, a good precedent to be followed. There is an undeniable fact that almost all the distinguished writers have been writing several praiseworthy books and writings and articles and accordingly Manipuri literature has been taking ceaselessly several shapings with the reflection of the present trend of literature.

However it is not wrong to say that the members of their own families do not give attention to their interest and devotion to Manipuri literature. In short their sons, daughters and relatives do not appreciate their works. It may be due to the lack of knowledge about the value and taste of literature on the part of the family members and relatives of the renowned writers and scholars. We can see that only a few families of the renowned writers are coming out boldly to develop Manipuri literature.

Mention may be made of the names of some selected families in this regard, such as Romani and RK Sanajaobi, the son and the daughter-in-law of Mahakavi Hijam Anganghal, RK Jayanta, the son of Sanahal BCom, Lamabam Brojendra, the son of Dr Lamabam Kamal, Kangjam Radhakumar, the son of Kangjam Padmakumar, RK Dilip, the son of RK Maipak, the collective family of Chongtham Jamini Devi, the sons, daughters and daughters-in-law of Arambam Dorendrajit.

There are other renowned and distinguished figures of literature in Manipur, but after their death, there has been no relation between their families and Manipuri literature. Recently our rare personalities like RK Jhalajit, Aribam Chitreshwore Sharma, Elangbam Sonamani Singh, etc. were no more. They were shining like bright stars in different genres of Manipuri literature, art and culture. However, non of the members of their families comes out to follow their footholds in order to commemorate their lifetime achievements and works. It is really unfortunate.

However, Jodha Chandra had realised such situations from the earliest times along his literary journey. He was so cautious always to drop out such loop holes. Jodha Chandra could see himself while he was alive the vivid picture of several programmes which were taken up by any group of writers and literary organisations with the support of his family to appreciate his works and his own lifetime achievements.

It is an open fact that those rare books written by the pioneers of Manipuri literature would have been untraceable if they were not careful to save them and they were bound to take up proper steps in time in this regard. The sympathisers and followers of those pioneers must take up sinceremost responsibilities to turn their objectives into action. The pioneers while they are alive, if any, must get themselves involved in those unavoidable tasks. Only their self indulgence and appeasement is not sufficient.

The idea, 'I am writing, running hither and tither with far sightedness and I have given the message of my life, these are rare pieces and let the research works be taken up by the interested scholars if they want.' It is better to give up such self indulgent acts. The writers and research scholars must work together with their friends and sympathisers who are working restlessly in their support.

The most important thing of a writer or scholar during his life time is to keep in mind that he should take care his own career and works. It is not necessary to think of the classification of low or high grade. This is, in short, an ideal and valuable footsteps to be followed by the future generation who will take the fruit of such journey.

In fact, it is the primary source for a research scholar in his research work. It is suggested that a long lasting guide must be given to the future generations and the irresponsibility and the ignorance of critical hours in life must be avoided.

Relation with Literary and Cultural Organisations:

1. Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Imphal (1917/18), the oldest Manipuri literary organisation.
2. The Cultural Forum Manipur.
3. Patriotic Writers' Forum (President)
4. Writers' Forum, Imphal
5. Short Story Society, India
6. Apunba Manipur Matam Ishei Kanglup (AMMIK), Imphal (President)
7. Union of Writers, Manipur (President), etc.

He was the president of the Translators' Forum, Manipur and he wrote several works of prose and poetry in the sixth monthly journal, Tamna (2014-2016). He translated several works of many writers and inserted those translated works in that journal. He became the editor of Manipuri Culture and Literature, the 6th monthly journal of Manipur State Kala Akademi till his death. He was also the editor of Piwits (an anthology of short stories translated from Manipuri) produced by the Sea Waves, Manipur.

Read Poems written by Jodha Chandra Sanasam here

To be continued...