MK Binodini remembered, two books released
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 06 2022: Imasi: The Maharaj Kumari Binodini Devi Foundation on Sunday launched the MK Binodini Devi Centenary observance with the release of two books by the eminent Manipuri writer (Binodini) called 'Wari Macha Binodinigi' and 'Nil Sandhyar Agun Megha'.

A release of the Foundation informed that 'Wari Macha Binodinigi' is a compilation of short stories in Meetei Mayek and the second one is the Bangla (Bengali) translation of Asangba Nongjabi' by Sri Bhavana.

The centenary celebrations will feature events by literary groups and institutions of Manipur and beyond, headed by the MK Binodini Centenary Committee instituted in 2021.It will be held over the course of the next 12 months, it said.

In this regard, Governor La Ganesan tweeted: "Extremely exuberant to extend my sincere greetings on the 100th anniversary of Maharaj Kumari Binod ini Devi.

Cultural Confluence is being organised as veneration to her sublime literary imprint that exhibits her deep moving ethos on social and cultural fabric of Manipur".

The new books were released by Bino-dini's close relatives at Govindaji Temple, Royal Palace.

"It is especially meaningful for us to offer prayers for my late Imacha on her 100th anniversary at the Sana Konung (royal palace) because this was where she was born and grew up offering services to Lord Govindaji," said Thoidingjam Lakshmipriya Devi, the daughter of MK Angousana Devi, older sister of Binodini, and the eldest grandchild of Maharaja Churachand Singh and Maharani Dhanamajuri.

Joining her at the event were her younger sister Huidrom Anuradha Devi, a trustee of Imasi Foundation; their younger cousins L Somi Roy, son of MK Binodini Devi and founder-trustee of Imasi Foundation, and foundation's advisory council member Wangam Somorjit and educational advisor to the foundation Rakesh Konjengbam.

Roy said that editing "Wari Macha Binodinigi' was an emotional journey as it brings her stories in her first book 'Nunggairakta Chandramukhi' that he read as a boy, along with her unpublished short stories, to today's young readers.

'Wari Macha Binodinigi' is published by Imasi Publications in Meetei Mayek for use by students.

The original stories in 'Nungairakta Chandramukhi', included in Wari Macha Binodinigi, have recently been added to the curriculum at Manipur University.

It is the third volume of unpublished works by MK Binodini Devi to be brought out by Imasi Foundation, after 'Isei Binodinigi' of her songs and 'Khonjel Lila Binodinigi' of her radio plays.

Foundation trustee Huidrom Anuradha said, "By publishing new books by Imacha, we advance the mission of Imasi Foundation to protect, preserve and promote the legacy of MK Binodini Devi.

Bringing Nunggairakta Chandramukhi back into circulation along with stories she was not able to publish during her lifetime, is the highest and most intimate tribute we can pay to the writer known to her many sons and daughters of Manipur as Imasi." Bhasha Samsad's publication of Nil Sandhyar Agun Megh, a translation of the writer's renowned play 'Asangba Nongjabi' by Minati Ghosh with L Somi Roy, is the first publication of the works of MK Binodini Devi in Bangla.

"We at Bhasha Samsad and Minati Ghosh whose translations we have had to pleasure of publishing over the years, are proud to have produced such a landmark book," said Bitasta Ghoshal, founder and CEO of Bhasha Samsad.

"That we introduce Maharaj Kumari Binodini to the Bangla reading public with two works in the book - 'Nil Sandhyar Agun Megh' and 'Sri Bhavana' - that are rooted in Bengal's Santiniketan, will deeply touch all her readers in Bengal," he added.

The eminent writer so deeply loved Rabindranath Tagore and Bangla literature that it makes it a special honour for us to be part of remembering her through her words and works.

We bow our heads to Lord Govindaji and to the Maharaj Kumari from Bengal," Bitasta added.

Information on the books is now available on Imasi Books, the new web portal www.imasi.org/imasibooks/ which was also launched on Sunday.

"We believe that bringing together the publications of Imasi Foundation as well as other publishing houses that have brought out works by Imasi Binodini on a unified web portal is an important step towards bringing her works to an even larger public in Manipur as well as outside the state," said Rakesh Konjengbam of IngenixEducare and the incoming educational adviser of Imasi Foundation.

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