My father and the street vendor of Khwairamband Bazaar

Maibam Tomba Singh *

The book is the memoir of the retired Captain of the Indian Navy, L Bimolchand Singh, Nao Sena Medal, published by Bluerose Publishers, NOIDA, and is available on Amazon and Flipkart. It is the author’s childhood and adolescence story, and the book reveals a unique relationship between a child and his father, who became mentally ill and roamed the streets.

The book highlights the importance of the presence of a father towards his child. In the absence of his father, the writer, as a child, secured zero marks in Mathematics. However, after his father’s recovery from mental illness, the writer, as a child, was excited about life. He scored 100% in the subject and topped the competitive examination. In addition, the book lucidly brings out the following:

o The condition of the places and the life of the ordinary people in Manipur from the 50s to the mid-70s, and the child’s view of the festivals in Manipur.
o The impact of the Second World War on Manipur and harmonious relations between the people in the hill and the valley then.
o The children’s life and the condition of the village school in the 50s.
o The blind faith of the people in black magic and the treatment of illness by the traditional medicine men.
o The book also highlights the fury of adolescent love and the superior nature of the parent’s love.
o The traditional method of agriculture and handloom industry in the valley.

While growing up, the writer witnessed his mother’s hardship and challenges to mitigate the family’s sufferings. His younger brother was bedridden with a big abscess on his thigh, and his mentally ill father demanded hotel or temple food and became aggressive if the demand was not fulfilled. Sometimes, his father, who was kept chained in the house, managed to escape by breaking the chain cable.

The author and his mother would frantically search for him on the streets of Imphal. She worked as a housemaid in a traditional medicine man’s house and slept on the Civil Hospital’s veranda with an infant for many months for her younger son’s treatment.

The writer’s family shifted to Imphal and stayed at various places. His father did odd jobs as a watchman at the construction site, handyman, casual labourer, etc. The writer’s mother started selling betel nuts and cigarettes at the Kwakeithal market in 1961, and she eventually became a street vendor in the Khwairam-band Bazaar, Imphal. His father became a peon at Tombisana High School in 1964.

Briefly, the book describes the merger of Manipur with India, upgrading Part ‘C’ to Union Territory, and the struggles for Statehood. The general feeling of euphoria of the people of Manipur in the 50s changed to discontentment in the 60s, resulting in the emergence of large-scale insurgency in the late 70s.

The book also highlights the changing landscape of Imphal, Khwairamband Bazaar, Nambul and Naga rivers, Lamphelpat, Langol, Porompat, and other places in Manipur. The book reminds us of the scarcity of rice in the 50s and 60s and mentions the famine in 1965 and the flood in 1966.

The writer lost one school year in class X due to poor health, started bodybuilding, and wanted to become Mr Manipur. His dream was shattered when his father expired after a prolonged illness. He became a peon in his father’s place. His hope of getting a Government job after graduation was in despair due to the rampant corruption in the State. Instead, he spent most of his time daydreaming about girls and weight training/bodybuilding.

Having failed in BSc Part I, the writer felt ashamed of his selfishness and foolishness, neglecting his mother’s sufferings and sacrifices and wasting time daydreaming about the girls. His mother struggled to educate her children and could not eat for days due to stomach ulcers, but she never got tired of the hard work.

The writer realized that the secret of his mother’s strength was her positive attitude, making her tireless in her efforts. The writer changed his attitude and was determined to pass the BSc Exam. With a positive attitude and strong willpower, he could finally succeed, self-discipline his wandering mind, and concentrate on studying.

The writer also describes the women vendors of Khwairamband Bazaar as the leading torchbearers of Manipur’s economic and social activities, the family’s breadwinners, and the driving force behind their children’s education and welfare. The writer’s mother was also one of them, a street vendor, sitting on the roadside like a statue in the sun and rain without any proper protection.

Further, this book is about the indomitable spirit of an illiterate, loving mother who sacrificed her life to ensure her children’s bright and valuable future. She did it to make her children successful in a significant manner in the face of numerous challenges. Her younger son completed an MSc and then a PhD outside Manipur and became a Vice-Chancellor of a University.

The youngest son was one of the pioneers in computer printing in Manipur, and the writer became the only Naval Officer from the State in the early 80s. It was possible due to the indomitable spirit of an illiterate and dedicated mother.

Finally, I would like to quote one inspiring paragraph from the concluding part of the book, “All challenges to life, like poor health, lack of opportunity for quality education, economic backwardness, wandering mind, the fury of adolescent love, daydreaming and living in fantasies, can be overcome with willpower, determination, and self-discipline.”

I want to add that the sweat of a mother’s hard work always gives her children the opportunity to grow into a sublime life.