"Mee Sumnaba Kollu" :: A Book Review
- Book by Nongthombam Biren -

Nongmaithem Rakesh *

REVIEW OF "YENGLU YENGLUBADA"

Lanchenba Meetei's "YENGLU YENGLUBADA" is an anthology of short and imaginative poetry. It can be said to be a very bold and unique book as it is a collection of experimental and unorthodox poetries.

The poet, Lanchenba Meetei, is senior Lecturer of D.M. College of Art. He is a poet, short story writer, playwright and a translator as well. He has written a number of books. Prominent among them are PHEINA CHINGSILLAKLIBA LEI, MIKAP THORAKPADA MANGLAKNABA, MANNADABA MITYENG, HI NANGBU HONDEDA, etc. He has been endowed with many literery awards. Sahitya Akademi award and Kavi Sanman are prominent among the many award that have been conferred on him.

The delectus "YENGLU YENGLUBADA" is divided into 7 sections. The first part being AYUK NUNTHIL AMADI NUMITDANG (Morning, Evening and Night). This section is the most melodiuos, rhythmic and heavenly portion of this book.

Here you will find symbolic as well as mellisonant poems like NONGGALLAKPASIDA (In this dawn), CHAHIGI KHONGCHAT(Yearly sojourn), THASIRAMDAI AHINGI THAJA, etc.

NONGGALLAKPASIDA is a beautiful poem that compared the rising sun to a joyfully playing infant. CHAHIGI KHONCHAT depicts the marriage of earth with sun. It symbolizes the orbit of the earth around the sun as the bridegroom making a circle around the groom. AKIBA MITYENG is a poem that described science as an evil man which disrobes the mystery of the nature.

NONJUTHAGI AHING (Night of the rainy season) is an aesthetically elegant yet sensous in content.

The second part of the book titled as EI AMASUNG EIGI SAIRENG (Me and my poem) narrates the way the verses are written or are evolved out of the head of the poet. Here you will find funny poems doted with powerful imageries. KAKTHATLUBADA portrays the words being cut up in the mind of the poet from which springs up as exquisite poem.

MAHUM SABA compares the writing of poetry to the eruption of volcano whereas LAKSINBA NGAMLAKTRABADA (Unable to restrain) likens the mind to a pot full of fishes which are trying to jump out of the pot.

MAPUNG FADABA KHUDOL is a poems that interprets literature to a garden while the poems to a fruits grown in the orchard.

Besides these there are wonderful and socially relevant poems like LALONBA (Trader) which critized the deceptive business being carried by the Bramhin in the name of god. And there are KAKPHEI and HANGI LAI (Puppet) which examplifies the current condition of Manipur. Above all there is a bold poem by the name of NONNGI WARI (The story of rain), a poem made up of sounds only.

Well the book YENGLU YENGLUBADA is a medley of beautiful, highly bold and experimental runes. The verse are of five lines only. Most of the verse are rhythmic. There is a wide and appropriate use of imagery. It is a book that is bold in contain as well as context. It is an another feather in the cap of Manipuri literature.

You deserved to read it once in your life.