Library of Manipur is proud to present our first publication, a book titled “Ningshing lakanungdagi” a collection of eleven memoir stories by Saroj Nalini Khomdram scheduled to be released on 29th Dec 2024 at Deputy Speaker Hall, Constitution Club, Rafi Marg, New Delhi 110001, India.

Book Title : Ningshing Lakanundagi

About the author: Saroj Nalini Khomdram

About the book:

A memoir where we can get a glimpse of life in Manipur from the perspective of a strong and resilient young woman. Her story reflects her never give up attitude with whatever life brings on. It’s about memories felt deeply which remained hidden in her heart for a very long time, and finally, poured onto these pages.

Her writing reflects the struggle faced by many. It is her personal story and yet, many in Manipur can relate. These stories reveal the emotions and experiences a woman carries beneath the strong positive person we see, giving the reader hope to cruise through life no matter what. This book touches on the following:

• What citizens of Manipur face with ongoing conflict and bribery by the minister.
  • Hunger Marchers 1965
  • At the minister’s quarter
• Life of women who woman unknowingly becomes the other woman, plight of daughter with a drunken father and multiple step mothers, a young mother dying alone during childbirth, young mother confronts the teacher’s bias of giving a lower grade than the person who copied off of her and the hardworking young wife caring for a cow.
  • A day in lockup
  • Eche Choubi
  • The road to hospital
  • At the teacher’s house
  • My treasured wedding gift, my black cow
• Her emotional journey in discovering her sister is her biological mother and her mother is her grandmother, choosing her life partner, the journey of life as a wife and mother, bouncing and facing life’s curveballs with a never-give-up attitude.
  • Life Partner
  • Meeting the Shaman
  • On the way to Jail
  • For my children

Highlights of stories

The author has dedicated this book to the sons and daughters of Manipur, the ones who have given their life during the ongoing conflict which started on 3rd May 2023, an offering with tears.

The cover painting “Ebenpokki Cheishu” (Great grandmother’s walking stick) is a painting by author’s daughter Monica Ingudam. They went through a journey of pilgrimage and support for relief camps in Manipur during the summer of 2023.

This tree is at the top of the hills of Epudhou Marjing temple. It is naturally formed as a walking stick. It is believed to bless you with extra support just as a walking stick does. She painted it for her mother since she couldn’t climb till there.

For my children : The author starts by recounting the pain and suffering of elders, young mothers and children she met in the relief camp, the violence, the death, the burnings of home and the displaced people. She laments about the continuous never ending conflict in Manipur she has seen in her life time, the impact it has to everyone and her short path ahead as she is aging. Will she see ever see peace in Manipur?

Who doesn’t want to stay together as a family? But families separate to survive. This is a story of selfless mother not hesitating to sell her gold jewelry, committed father selling his land to give the gift of education to their children, so they can get a job without giving any bribe. She recounts on her children travels to the college by bus and trains, the fear of traveling during bandh , resting on newspaper at railway stations. Flight was a luxury and she recounts with tears about an incident of her first daughter who refused a flight ticket from a cousin sister to go back to Manipur for holidays. The author had gone to the airport to pick her up but she wasn’t in the flight, the cousin sister indicated that she will come by train and bus bringing tears to a mother.

Life Partner : How do you define the feeling when one finds out your sister is your mother and your mother is your grandmother? Though I understood my young widow mother coming back to her maternal house with me after my father passed away when I was only 5 months old, and the situations that led her to remarry when I was a teenager, but Who do I express my inner desire? Who will ask me what I wanted? How do you deal with the expectation and push to get married to high status rich family ? The pressure and wish for grandmother to see me getting married as she is getting older. Will I be ungrateful not to accept their choice but choose my own path, a poor educated self made man from a village, someone who promised to support my dream of studying further, doing my Masters.

On the way to Jail : A very personal touching story and yet it relates to many in Manipur. Exposed to a land of continuous violence and conflict, many are suffering with mental issues. Ask anyone in Manipur, you will find cases of mental issues with extreme suspicion, sleeplessness, constant preparation to face an attack. The land is filled with threats even to common people performing duties of an honest teacher to hold exam, ban cheating, fair paper correction and admission. This is a story of a fearless young woman with young kids who left no stone unturned to get the right intervention, to get treatment for her husband, even if it is done hiddenly, even if that meant going to jail to meet a doctor.

A Day in lockup: The salary of Rs 200 as a private college teacher was also stopped. But the college didn’t become a government college. The teachers decided to fast unto death. Protesting for not getting salary can get you inside a lockup when you have a life in Manipur. The author recounts the event of meeting a woman unknowingly becomes the other woman, the man she eloped already.

At the teachers house: Story of a courageous young mother confronting the teacher’s bias of giving a lower grade than the person who copied from her. Did the teacher give her a lower grade because she is a woman ? A mother ? She didn’t keep quiet, she carried her young son at her back, walked all the way to her teacher’s house and told the truth. What did the teacher do ? It’s for you to read the book to find out.

Meeting the Shaman : Yes there is a story of black magic.

At the minister’s quarter: How does the common people combat with bribery ? Minister takes money to get a job done, what happens when the job is not done? This young woman goes to the minister’s quarter with her young son asking for the money back since the job wasn’t done. Did she get the money back? It’s for you to read the book to find out.

Eche Choubi : A very sad event showing the plight of a young daughter with a drunken father and multiple step mothers. A beautiful narration showing how life changes showing better and good times in her later life with her husband and children. Each stories the author tells brings tears to the reader but also gives hope with cruising through life with a never give up attitude.

The road to hospital: Another sad event where a young mother died alone during childbirth.

My treasured wedding gift, my black cow : A lighter reading on her love for her black cow, a wedding gift she received from her grandmother.

Hunger Marchers 1965 : Author’s experience participating in the Hunger Marchers 1965. This is the story of the people of Manipur living in conflict situation throughout the lifetime. And the conflict continues.

Readings

Wishes for the Author

(Message us with a short video in our facebook page and we will stream it during the liveshow)

Message from:

1. Jamuna Laishram, Manipur
2. Thoudam Netrajit , Manipur
3. Thounaoujam Shyam Singh, Guwahati,
4. Manoranjan Ingudam
5. Tombi Thoidingjam
6. Nirmala R K
7. Prof. Aruna Nahakpam
8. A K Seram
9. Hamom Pramud
10. Dr. Biona Kharrubon

ISBN: 979-8-218-98989-7

Barcode:

Medium: Book , printed in India at Yaibiren Communication, Uripok, Manipur

Language: Meiteilon/Manipuri language

Publisher: Library Of Manipur

This book is also available in pdf format and audio format read by author herself. Translation in English is scheduled to be released in 2025.

Thagatchari