LAMGI CHEKLA AMADA - A MANIPURI POEM

Before starting my  Today's blogpost for Blogchatter's Half-Marathon, would like to pass on my greetings to all the TEACHERS out there on the occasion of TEACHER'S DAY IN INDIA. With the same flow I 'm happy to share with my fellow bloggers that today  is my blog's 7th Anniversary. With your support and inspiration I was able to cross this mile stone. Thank you.

Coming to the blogpost Under the theme 10 GREAT WORKS FROM INDIAN LANGAUGES, this is the fifth post  covering  LAMGI CHEKLA AMADA -  by Khwairakpam Chaoba Singh , a Manipuri poem translated by L. Damodar Singh into English.

TO AN ALIEN BIRD

When Phoebus wings his galloping course towards west

When ploughmen in their fields call it  a day

A cool bath and balmy breeze

Their body and mind refresh.

When the fading day the descending darkness meets

When in the dusk around

The cattle their homeward way plod

A solitary bird wings away towards the stars

Dancing and gyrating.

I listen to its chant

On the grandsire's courtyard by the seat of Brinda

O flying friend! Tarry awhile;

The heaven's uncharted'd.

Under whose commands and guidance

Wilt thou reach thy home?

The solitary bird heeds not my exhortations

And passes beyond my ken.

When the sun has run its race

I lie on my couch

And try to drown in sleep.

When numbing drowsiness

Begins overpowering my senses

Ere slumber has yet to lull my spirit

A heavenly angel in the moonlit deep blue

Welcomes the bird with a loving beckon

And gives it an abode.

The lonely bird on its perch sends its message:

''It's as beautiful as I found it then

O mortals!

Vain thou art:

In the kingdom of the Lord

Who leads our path at every event?

I'll come on the morrow too

Wing my way as I did today

And sing the glory of the Lord."

Manipuri language was probably next to none among modern Indian languages and it could safely be assumed to have one of the oldest literatures of India. However with the adoption of Assamese - Bengali script and related adverse circumstances, the people of the land began/ had to give their expression in Sanskrit and Bengali languages. By that time, the enthusiasm of the people for their creative literature was declining.

However this state of affairs could not  continue for ever. From the early days of 20th century, with the arrival of printing facility in the geographically isolated region, an urge for  establishing the Manipuri language and literature in its past glory was roused by  some pioneers among whom were some non -Manipuries and even Europeans.

Poetry, drama, fiction, critical essay etc started appearing in considerable quantity and commendable quality. The emergence of  Khwairakpam Chaoba Singh  in the literary world of Manipur may be compared to the awakening songs of a bird heralding the dawn.

During his short  life span (1898-1957), Chaoba's contribution to the great movement is significant and unique. His idea of  a poet as an advocate for the cause of one's language and literature is quite assuring. Being well acquainted with Sanskrit and Bengali and English he could imbibe the mannerism and style of  these languages in different realms of his creations: poem, drama, novel and short stories.

His perception of the external world impinges upon his psychic reality and often disturbs the balance of his inner life. He could use appropriate words for the mood and ideas in his mind. In fact Chaoba was a rare master of Manipuri language. He could convey abstract spiritual ideas and subtle moods very easily without any obscurity that shows amply his mastery over Manipuri language. The corpus poeticum of modern Manipuri literature shall be incomplete without Chaoba's poetics.

(This blogpost is  a part of Blogchatter's Half-Marathon 2023)