Wakhal Seireng: Book Review

James Oinam *

Author: E. Sonamani Singh
First Edition: November 1949
Publisher: S. Tombi Singh, Police Lane, Imphal
Available in public domain:
https://ia601605.us.archive.org/19/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.466752/2015.466752.Wakhal-Seireng.pdf

Mama oina pokla phau
Macha nungsi khangdraboi;
Taibang pumba ngalla phau
Amum sharuk lotliboi.

Warakchetpi nahakni
Khang-ngamdraba lichatse,
Chatnabi echel kayagi
That-ngamdraba khongchatse—

Pangla thammoi singduna
Khangba ngamda yaokhibra?
Punshi chuppa mumduna
Malang lanna chatkhibra?

Natte amtta natte, thammoitani lengdabadi
Tausinaba lakta, achumbana lotchabani.

[my translation:
Even if born as mother
As if not knowing how to love your child
When the world is bright
As if hiding in the dark

Strict you are(?)
Don't you know the behaviour(?)
These many conventions(?)
Ones that can't be broken(?)

Foolish heart becoming wise
Did anyone realized?
All life in darkness
Did they die?

No, not any of them, heart is unmovable
It was lies, in which the truth got hid]
(a poem titled 'Mamagi Thammoi' in the book)

The book is a small collection of Manipuri poems written in Bengali script. Heartbreak over a separated lover or over poor economic condition of the state (motherland) is difficult to tell apart in some poems. (In the poem given above, mama, for mother in Manipuri, is obviously used for the motherland.)

The longest poem in the collection called 'Nongpok-Chekla' (my translation: Western(?) Bird) seems to hold the West responsible for the pitiable condition of the state:

Nongchup Cheklani Launamba
Chekla launam mapalna
Chaokhatlaba taibangda
Pikla Meitei samajna
Tahaure atonba meeyenphamda

[my translation:
Self-seeking bird of the West
It is because of the bird
When the world is developed
Small Meitei society
Left behind in eyes of everyone]

There are poems seeking solace in the feet of the God. The author was perhaps a Hindu convert. This is indicated in the expressions like 'Meera khonjelna waba' (The tired voice of Meera) and 'Baitarani lanba' (Crossing Baitarani [River]).

The publisher and the author are conversant with Hindi, which is closer to northern Indian Hindi dialect compared to Bengali Hindi. For example, in the introductory letter, the publisher uses the word 'kalamgi' (derived from 'kalam' meaning pen is north Indian Hindi; Bengali counterpart would be 'kolom', which is how Manipuri pronounce it nowadays).

Other than Manipuri words that I haven't heard of before like 'launam' (meaning 'mean', 'self-seeking'), the publisher and the author have used some particularly difficult Hindi words like 'smriti' (memory), 'upkar' (favour, blessing) and 'niyati' (fate).

In the letter mentioned above, one sentence - 'Atoppagi kari mat oibage khangde (my translation: What is the opinion of the others, [I] don't know)—is interesting. Is 'mat' (clearly north Indian Hindi for 'opinion') a typographical mistake, or the variant that is prevalent now, mot, is a recent derivative due to Bengali influence?

This may be a one-off case; but one thing is certain, the Hindi used in this small book is closer to northern India (Uttar Pradesh area) than West Bengal.

Acknowledgements: I would like to thank following Facebook friends for helping me read and translate some of the words that confounded me (names arranged alphabetically):
Abemcha Sunan Thokchom,
Chintamlen Khuman,
Mayanglambam Uttam Kumar,
Naresh Ayekpam,
Priya Thoi and
Tmcha Ranzon.