Foreign visit upsets king's wedding
– Bilingual book reports -

By Shilpa Kar *

Years back, the king of Tripura, Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya was supposed to marry Manipuri princess Tamal Manjuri Debi. But the day never came and the match could not be solemnized.

Reason – only because the king of Tripura went abroad; crossing the big ocean. That visit made him out-caste. So, he could not marry the Manipuri princess. That incident of yester years came alive in the memory of another Manipuri princess Maharajkumari Binodini Debi.

Reminiscing those days in the context of the foreword to the book, 'Itihaser Aaloke Tripura Manipur', jointly authored by L. Birmangal Singh and Pannalal Roy she has written that her mother was very upset when her elder sister's marriage got called off. She wanted to see one of her daughters as the queen of Tripura. But the palace politics let her down.

Such a really sensational revelation in the foreword makes it clear that the book will offer more similar historical facts. Tripura and Manipur had shared a cordial relationship for long which saturated further because of matrimonial alliances.

At one time Manipuris came to settle in Tripura. Naturally, Manipuri culture was bound to spread here. This subject has been discussed several times in the newspapers and magazines.

But, in the light of history perhaps this is the first full-fledged book on Tripura-Manipur relationship. One more specialty of this book is – it has catered to both the linguistic groups – Bengali and Manipuri.

The Akshar Publications of Tripura has published the book targeting the Agartala Book-Fair. Apart from historical background the book has also peeped into the various ups and downs in the two royal families in detail.

Discussion on cultural aspects of both the states has found place in the book. So are details available on the cultural evolution in Manipur after the coming of Vaishnavite culture, fusion of ancient cultural heritage with the post Vaishnavite culture, stories on war and battles etc.

At one time the elephants of Tripura were exchanged with Manipur's ponies. The Bengali artistes played a pivotal role in the evolution of film industry in Manipur. All these happenings of bygone days have been covered.

Bilingual feature of this book will benefit the readers of two states more. One can also find significant information about the Manipuri queens of Tripura. So, is there reference to the introduction of Ras Leela by the royal priest Bhagya Chandra as directed in the dream.

The write-ups incorporated in this book have already been published in various newspapers and magazines of Imphal, Silchar, Guwahati and Agartala which have drawn appreciative attention of the readers. Marketing of this book has already started in Imphal and the news of appreciation from different quarters has started pouring.

In context of the forword Maharajkumari Binodini Debi further writes:

"After the debacle of elder sister's marriage proposal grand-mother Ratnamanjari went back to Tripura disappointed. I learnt that after few days she passed away. When I was studying in Shillong I met the king of Tripura, Bir Bikram at a Bodo feast. He called me on and asked to sit beside him. Then he, in a teasing tone and added – 'today you will eat with me, will your caste not be spoilt by this?' I don't have language to express the way I was ashamed at his remarks. This was the age-old relationship between Tripura and Manipur."