"Khadanggi Sambru (A Mole On The Chin)" :: A Book Review
- Book by Hijam Guno -

Nongmaithem Rakesh *

REVIEW OF "KHADANGGI SAMBRU (A MOLE ON THE CHIN)"

There is something unique about a good book. The book can take you anywhere, can make you feel any emotion that it wants you to feel and make you think what it wants you to think. All these features are incorporated in Khandanggi Sambru ( A Mole On The Chin). The book is written by Hijam Guno Singh. He is a novelist, poet, as well as short story writer.

He has written numerous book like " Bir Tikendrajit Road, Laman, Eikhoigi Tada, etc. He has been awarded the Sahitya Akademi award for his book titled "Bir Tikendrajit Road". He has won numerous accolades including Dr. Ambedkar fellowship, Sahitya Akademi awrd for translation and others prizes.

Khadanggi Sambru is a collection of short stories. It was first published in the year 1985. Although it was written a long time ago it is still interesting an enjoyable even today. What makes this book interesting as well as enjoyable is that it deals with varied themes.

It contains stories that appeals to both young and old men alike. Khaddangi Sambru and Richshaw Bhara (The Rickshaw Fare) are the stories that will hold the attention of the youth while Lambigi Chayom and Emung Ama Chatnabi Ama (One Family One Tradition) will charm the mature persons.

Moreover, most of the stories contain graphical descrition of characters. Stories like "Khadanggi Sambru, Lambigi Chayom" fall in this category. There are stories like "Nahak Kaodedana (You Haven't Forget), Meragi Tha (The Moon Of Mera) which are symbolic. The symbols add to the beauty of the story. They signify different things to different persons.

"Kunoorgi Helloi (The Fairies Of Kunoor) and Mamming Thondriba Wari (The Story That Has Not Been Christened) are ghost stories. Further, tales such as Tampha Khudop Yai Oiba and Khudolpot describe the condition of Manipur and poverty ridden families.

The book Khadanggi Sambru contains stories of diverse subject matters. It contains stories which are appealing to the old as well as the young alike. There are supernatural stories and the stories which are based on reality. It also has tales which are sensous as well as sexual in character and it also has tale which is very sanguine. Besides these, the descriptions of characters are stupendous. The characterization are really wonderful. Manner of wrting stories are beautiful . Lots of old Manipuri words are used appropriately. So, it is one of those books that you may look for.

I will rate it 7 out of 10.

Thus, all these qualities makes these book very readable.