Author: Smriti Kumar Sinha
Original
Version: Bishnupriya Manipuri
Translator:
Ramlal Sinha
Editor: Zinnia Sengupta
Publisher:
Niyogi Books
Genre: Literary and Contemporary Fiction
Book buy link ---- @Amazon
Smriti Kumar Sinha the renowned
Bishnupriya Manipuri story writer for his first “Seducing the Rain God” which attracted readers around the world, influenced the Indian language Bishnupriya Manipuri by narrating the landscapes of the Northeast.
He is a reputed educationist and
currently Vice-Chancellor of Pragjyotishpur University. His short stories were published in “Indian
Literature” the famous literary journal of Sahitya Akademi, India. Now, he is a major activist for the
revitalisation and development of minor and endangered languages of Northeast
India over the past four decades.
The Translator Ramlal Sinha is a veteran
journalist from Northeast and Executive Editor of The Sentinel, Assam. Being the Sub-Editor with The Newsfront,
Guwahati, like Smriti Kumar Sinha, is devoted to making literature in
endangered languages of the Northeast accessible to pan-Indian and
international audiences.
The Selected story is titled “Freedom
Lost in Rights”, written by Smriti Kumar Sinha one of the most reputed
short-story writers of his generation. The collection of these eleven
Stories is best known for its immensely inter-woven characters, habits
and customs, way of life, day-to-day adventures and their language in Manipur.
This nearly 200-page collection has been rendered in English by Bishnupriya Manipuri in a lucid way. Though
translating any work from one language into another is an arduous task,
especially so if the work of translation consists of spoken words, Ramlal Sinha
travelled the entire region of NorthEast, especially Manipur, for the live
narration of the characters, language, region, and their lifestyle.
It’s a tedious effort that requires the translator's abundance
of dedication and unremitting labour of the translator over his assigned task
without failing to provide the quintessence of North-Eastern diction.
The
first story Grass or Land? Highlights the childhood friendship - never care
about caste or creed; poor or rich.
The phrase from Page 17, “Undernourished,
he is a bag of bones” echoes the Tamil Saying “Kaayame idhu poyyadaa, verum
Kaatradaittha paiyyadaa”.
The phrase from page 29 “The
Shampens are very happy because they are very close to Mother Nature. For us, peace is scarce because we have
distanced ourselves from nature” insists the reader to save the earth without
ruining nature.
The phrase from page 125 “Anger
is one letter short of danger” throws light on controlling the anger which
provokes emotional downfalls.
The
eternal love between Akhanda and Prajna, the adventurous journey of the author
along with his team to visit the Nicobar Islands to conduct the polling, and the reality
of human life and soul through Nandeswar are well narrated.
The cover page, well designed was a theoretical
representation through the mixture of old and modern art well designed by Maithili
Doshi which makes the readers visualize the theme of the story - Freedom Lost
in Rights the second one of this collection.
While
reading this collection of stories, the readers can experience the north east region as if
they were travelling and interacting with the characters in the Northeast region.
There
are many rituals, ceremonies, and celebrations described through the words like
Navami, Pitupaksha, Vishu in Vaishak, Rathayatra in Ashadh, Hariuththan, Goshthalila,
Rasalila etc Navami with related things like Aarti, Nukun the sacred thread, Firal,
Champa, Kumkum, Kathidal, Leichandan, Prasad, Tika, etc.
The ornaments like Patuki, Dhungri,
Bulaki, Naugedi and pote;
the games and dance like Betgutta,
Pung Chalan, Bhangi;
the edibles like Dalmool, Kachi gani oil, Bhaat
Khawaani, Senakapak;
the clothes like Inafi, Nayanamuna, Kantha,
Irufi, Talafuti, Chaubandi cholo, Kirtanar khutteri, Angavastra, and Chandua are
interesting things that kindle the readers to visualize the entire scenario.
The book reveals the hidden
treasure of the northeast of India and readers worldwide will get a glimpse of the people's lives in the region through literature.
This is a book with high literary
merits and due importance to language, culture, and writing style is maintained throughout.
(This book
review is the part of Blogchatter's Book Review Program)
