FREEDOM LOST IN RIGHTS

 

 

 

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)