IT News
Imphal, Feb. 6:
The MK Binodini Devi Centenary was launched by the Maharaj Kumari Binodini Devi Foundation with the publication of two new books by the eminent Manipuri writer on her 100th birth anniversary. The centenary celebrations will see 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.
The Governor of Manipur La. Ganesan, tweeted: “Extremely exuberant to extend my sincere greetings on the 100th anniversary of Maharaj Kumari Binodini 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 by Binodini were launched with prayers and offerings by MK. Binodini’s close relatives of Imasi Foundation at the singgar arti to Lord Govindaji at Sri Sri Govindajiu Temple of Sana Konung, the Royal Palace of Manipur. “It is especially meaningful for us to offer prayers for my late Imacha
on her 100th anniversary at the Sana Konung because this was where she was born and where she grew up offering services to Lord Govindaji,” said Thoidingjam Lakshmipriya Devi, the daughter of MK Angousana Devi, older sister of MK Binodini Devi, and the eldest grandchild of Maharaja Churachand Singh and Maharani Dhanamanjuri of Manipur. Joining her at the morning singgar arti were her younger sister Huidrom Anuradha Devi, Trustee of Imasi Foundation; their younger cousins L. Somi Roy, son of MK Binodini Devi and Founder-Trustee of Imasi Foundation, and Wangam Somorjit of the foundation’s Advisory Council; and Rakesh Konjengbam, Educational Adviser to the foundation.
“Editing Wari Macha Binodinigi was an emotional journey for me as it brings her stories in her first book Nunggairakta Chandramukhi that I read as a boy, along with her unpublished short stories, to today’s young readers,” said Roy. “We thank Amit Das and Imasi Foundation Adviser Satyajit Aribam of EV Mobility, and Rahul Manav of Samyak Entrepreneurs, for their support for this and other centenary publications.” Wari Macha Binodinigi is published by Imasi Publications in MeiteiMayek 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 It is the third volume of unpublished works by MK Binodini Devi to be brought out by Imasi Foundation, after Isei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.
Imasi Foundation Trustee Huidrom Anuradha noted, “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. We feel so close to Manipur and the Maharaj Kumari that our publication is launched at Lord Govindaji by her family on the Centenary. The eminent writer so deeply loved Rabindranath Tagore and Bangla literature that it makes it an 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.”
