Voice Of The Voiceless : Book Review
- Book by Seram Neken -

Dr. Kh. Gourashyam *

Back Cover of Voice Of The Voiceless

"Voice of the Voiceless" is an anthology of articles portraying contemporary Manipur society. The book covers almost all issues ranging from prevailing dirty electioneering practices, dying cultural elements, undue pressure on the media, sports mismanagement and child rights violations to mistaken feminist issues. Readers who wish to get a glimpse of contemporary Manipur will find the book very useful.

Democracy has turned contradictory to its own institutions. Election through adult franchise which was designed to elect representatives of the people has gradually failed to bring forth expected results. The very democratic mechanism is no more helpful in electing true representatives of people. Through the process of elections, we can no longer select competent representatives.

Majority of the electorate has been voting for the wealthy and powerful people, who are not sure to represent the thoughts and perceptions of its people. Hence, electoral politics is said to have tarnished the expected democratic values.

Instead of selecting the fittest representatives, the electorate always votes for those wealthy and powerful people who can purchase their democratic rights. Not only in general elections but also in local body elections, the ill-practice of buying votes with cash and kind has become an unavoidable trend.

The nation surely feels shame of having inserted the picture of Gandhiji on currency notes, which are involved in all kinds of vices happening in the contemporary society. Drug trafficking, fake encounters, murders, kidnappings, sexual abuses and what not – all antisocial activities are carried out for money and with money.

The writer of the "Voice of the Voiceless" asks its esteemed readers – "Are we humiliating the father of the nation by putting Gandhiji's picture in currency notes?" The book clearly depicts the way the elections are conducted in Manipur and the ill-practices involved in it. The book wonderfully finds out that election has become contradictory to democratic values.

The book is a collection of articles written by the Imphal-based Columnist Seram Neken, who writes for the Hueiyen Lanpao English Daily and web editions including www.merinews.com, www.e-pao.net, www.gomanipur.com, www.manipuronline.com and www.kanglaonline.com for more than a decade.

All the 35 articles contained in the book are short, easily comprehensible, and resourceful. A few chapters of the book dwell on the three regimes of Okram Ibobi government in Manipur under the title "The Third Ibobi".

The Highway Ghost, Hero worship, Vote for my wife, etc, are some of the topics focusing on present political scenario of Manipur. The terrorism perpetrated on the lifeline highways connecting Manipur and rest of India, and the expected role of Nagaland state are also depicted in the book.

The writer expresses his expectations on the Manipur politicians to gain a say at the level of national politics. Women empowerment in the form of seat reservations in elections is also discussed as being a practice of male-hegemony. Child rights violation, women issues, media invasion on the children's minds, meira paibee's role in elections, restaurant drives, issues of aged people, good morning Manipur radio programme, bicycles use etc. are some of the interesting chapters analyzed in the book.

The book "Voice of the Voiceless" includes chapters on the dying cultural/musical art forms such as Pena, Khongjom Parva, Khullang Esei etc. Lai Haraoba and Shumang Lila are also discussed in-depth in the later chapters of the book. A chapter is devoted to Rajarshi Bhaeigyachandra, the famous king of and his religious intellectualism.

The pressure on Manipur media organizations and individuals is covered in the article "Guns versus Pen". Knocking electric poles for any eventuality in Manipur society is also mentioned as an effective traditional medium in Manipur today. In sports arena; cricket glamour, Olympians of Manipur and disabled children are also covered. Introduced and forwarded by Prof. MC Arun of Manipur University, the book is both entertaining and informative. It is rightly the contemporary history of Manipur.

Besides the colourful cover and inside pages of the book, the unique character of the book is the inclusion of meaningful cartoons/caricatures. The handy 103 paged book is priced reasonably at Rupees 120/-. Anyone who wishes to comprehend contemporary Manipur will surely find resources from this book. Have a glimpse and comprehend Manipur today.

For orders,
Call: 9436029021
or Email: [email protected]