Bishnupriya Manipuri Online

By Dils Lakshmindra Sinha Translation:  Karunamay Sinha Courtesy: Indian Review ‘Pranaam, Babu!’ A voice called from behind just as he was walking out of the refugee camp. Brajamohan Muktiar turned round to see who it was and found himself eying up Kanai – Kanailal Das. Hands folded, eyes tear-misted, Kanai was making a plea, ‘Babu Pranaam, I …I had a petition!’ Braja had seen much of this man during his visits to the refugee camp. A man of understanding. A very affable, compassionable man. Braja was instantly moved to deep fellow-feeling. ‘Yes, yes, speak up… yes?’ Braja could not wait to hear him out, his right hand round the shoulders of Kanai, he said reassuringly, ‘We are always by your side! It’s our duty to see your well being here. That is what we’re here for! c’mon speak your mind, have no qualms!’ ‘Babu! I… I… want to stay back! I do not want to be back to that land of fatality…!’ for a moment, Braja stood transfixed trying to comprehend what Kanai was trying to...

By DILS Lakshmindra Sinha Regarding the topic “ The Man Dils Lakshmindra Sinha ” I have to say something which is given below.  Thanks to Dils Debojyoti Sinha, for taking much interest on my works and activities. I know him personally as a learned and genius person. But he seems to be over conscious to pass his comment, contracting me, on the spelling of the name of my mother, “Juthi” and suggested the spelling to be “Jyoti”. In our tongue the two words are pronounced as “Juti”. But there is a difference in meaning – “juthi’ (in Sanskrit) is a flower of sweet fragrance (Jasmine), whereas ‘jyoti’ means light. In our Vaisnaba literature especially in Rasaleela songs and Basak songs Juthi is associated with Jadav ( as in the line “jadaba buliya juthi githia…” or “madhaba baliya gathe malati, jadaba baliya gathaye juthi” etc). It was an accident that my father, late Jadav Sinha married Juthi Devi (Sinha)( my mother) like one of my cousin Late Krishna Gopal married Late Radharani (s...

This article by Lakshmindra Sinha is continuation of his first article Role of feasts & festivals in Bishnupriya Manipuri culture-I . Dipandi or Dipanvita or the festival of lights is another festival celebrated in Kartik by the community. On the 14th night of Krishnapaksha when darkness envelops all around, the fellow beings of the community get the evening lit with flames of oil or candle lights. Flames or lit candles are left in pond or streams on small boats made of the epicalyx of banana flowers. Chanou is yet another popular festival for the community in Kartik. Members of the community have a traditional belief that holding chanou in Kartik brings fortune for them. Taking newly ripe paddy, husking them, offering cooked rice with them in the temples and taking that rice as prasad is what chanou is all about in the community. Chanou in Bishnupriya Manipuri has some sort of similarities with the Kangali Bihu of the Asomiyas. Agrayan is the harvesting month when the Bishnupri...

News & Views//By DILS Lakshmindra Sinha: The Manipuri culture has its own identity. That this is a blend of Aryan and Mongoloid cultures has been backed by scholars like E Nilakanta Singh. Though the Manipuri culture has its origin in the Aryan culture, influence of the Mongoloid culture on it in attaining its distinct and own identity and development cannot be ruled out. The Bishnupriya Manipuris are from the Aryan group. Till the Colonial Rule, both the Meiteis and Bishnupriyas were called Manipuris. Dr GA Grierson laid stress on this fact. Barring their languages, the cultures of these two communities are almost alike. In the post-independence era, the Bishnupriyas have been making efforts for their separate identity on the question of their mother tongue. When viewed from its origin, Bishnupriya Manipuri culture is the Aryan part of Manipuri culture. The cultures of Austric, Mongoloid and other ethnic communities had their influence for thousands of years on the development of ...

By Lakshmindra Sinha Oh, my friend! What was my offence That you have damaged all my dreams and Threw away my pure body In the middle of the busy road: The bloodied flesh, deformed into pieces— The limbs, the bones The smell of burnt skin Forced to close the nostrils of the dreaded paths. Oh, what you did? It burnt, it dried The soul Of all living beings. I too wanted to live like you Talking, laughing, caring And to lead this blossomed youth Towards the Heaven Of love, of warmth and joy. Just you hear : The cry of a mother that lost her child The cry of a child that lost his father, The cry of a sister that lost her brother The cry of a friend that lost his friend. Oh, friend, Whatever you like you do It is indeed I shall offer you jasmines In each explosions. Today is Erei (Friday) What next? Get Email Alerts (Bishnupriya Manipuri) Get SMS Alerts (Bishnupriya Manipuri) Get Email Alert (E - World)

WORDS Lakshmindra Sinha I sought to speak to you in silence And stretched my arms, the eyes, the lips Towards darkness My polished words disappears somewhere My words of love disappear somewhere. Word, That grown up with my life, From it’s infancy to youth Maturing itself it reaches at this juncture And stands still I click on the mouse of my heart, the words That appear in my mind-screen shows The red signs at their bottom--, Repeatedly show me the signs of error. Virus enter somewhere in the system Owing to endless violence, blasts, extremism The tortures and afflictions and the noises Nourish the virus. Therefore, My each word loses its purity My each words loses its beauty My each word loses its meaning My each word loses real thing. I offer my tears with love and devotion Like a hermit in a deep forest And extend my humble solicitation With folded hands: Give me back my words of love Give m...