"Angaoba Chitrakar Mounaha" :: A Book Review
- Book by Ch. Ningomba -

Nongmaithem Rakesh *

REVIEW OF "ANGAOBA CHITRAKAR MOUNAHA" (1.1.2013)

It is often said that the art or literature is the mirror of the society. If you want to know what is happening in a society then just study its literature and you will learn a lot about that society. This word is equally true in the case of the book "Angaoba Chitrakar Mounaha". You will understand a lot of things about Manipuri society by going through this book, written by Ch. Ningomba.

The book is a collection of eleven interesting and unique short stories. Each story offers a different taste of human emotion. You will suffer along with the characters in 'Asibagi Hiden' and 'Hiyangeigi Tarani Panba'.

You will laugh your heart out in 'Asiba Hakchang' (Dead body) and 'Tatombagi Kaleja' (The vanity of brother Tomba). You will be thrilled by the dramtic twist and turn of the story "Mister John".

The horror of the war is graphically described in 'Hiyangeigi Tarani Panba'. This tale also highlights the futility of war and the pang of sufferings of those who survived it. The present state of Manipur society is described in a very real manner in Asiba Hakchang, Torbangi Efoot, etc. Thus, almost all the stories deal with the various mode of human emotion which you will enjoy.

These captivating stories have been written in simple and day to day language. Moreover, most of the stories underscore the shortcomings of the society. However, they don't offer any solution to the problem. Most of the stories are based in and around Imphal city.

You will become familiar with the nook and corner of Imphal after going through the stories. The unique thing about the stories is that most of the protagonists don't have a name. They are common and unknown man in our society who is trying to let both ends meet.

Moreover, almost all of them are either drunkard, drug addicts or those who smoked pot. They are not perfect characters. They are very human with all the goodness and ill of a human being.

Through them the author shows the ills of our society, particularly of Manipur. The message of the stories useful. The message of good always win in the end is delivered in the story "Swarggi Leirang Narakki Til".

Moreover, you should not blame others as you are also liable to be blamed is preached in the story 'Torbanbgi Efoot'.

Thus, all these qualities makes these book very readable.