Sorarengi Machanupi And Kangla Diary
Issues Of Insurgency Reflected In The Novels Of BM Maisnamba
- Part 2 -

Dr. Sarangthem Sobharani Devi *

As drawn in "Sorarengi Machanupi" Maisnamba highlights the daily tensions of common people strata and social and cultural sensibilities in a more distinctive way which has been one of the conceptual backgrounds for the movement of self determination.

Here again the novelist put a vivid account of the people's protest against the unlawful and intolerable acts of the corrupted leaders. As consequence of it the emergence of the insurgent movement out of frustration is underscored in this novel. The story has been presented with a slogan for self-determination by introducing BK Chingshu as a patriot. BK Chingshu has been introduced as a person who got frustration two times in the past and has nobody behind his life.

His father, held as a warden of jail, was murdered by unknown. Hence, he made a complaint against of it but his voice to the concerned authority fell on deaf ears. This was the first indignation incident encountered by him in his life. And the second one was the suspension from his job as the inspector of CID when he produced a detailed report on corruption against some highly reputed officers. This incident was, indeed, a shuttering blow to his life. Hence, he formed a group to fight against the system.

Moreover, the character of Thoiba Luwang is also shown as a person who repeatedly got torturing of armies for extending support to the common people for justice. During the time he was in Indian army he was kept in the jail for three days by the commandant for committing assault in protest against the non Manipuri personnel for their immoderate actions. He was tortured in the jail for many days.

Subsequently making a hard decision to fight against them, he fled away from the army camp taking one granade and some weapons with him. Because of which he was declared as a wanted culprit by the government. To avoid from recognizing him by the people he started working as a rickshaw puller in the public places in which he used to cover the scars of his faces with cloth.

Taking responsibility to fight against systems BK Chingshu and Thoiba Luwang founded a movement. Simultaneously, several frustrated youths were also started establishing many insurgent groups in different part of the state with the aims to fight against the powerful people. Among them the Meitei State Committee and Revolutionary Government of Manipur (RGM) led by Mr Ito and SK Singh respectively are worth mentioning.

The character of BK Chingshu has been described as a person having full commitment to the sacrifice his life for the people's causes. With the aims to validate the human values by rectifying the immoderate behaviour of the leaders he entered into politics and established a party called KRP. Behind the backdrop of the KRP, joining hands with the likeminded groups they had been actively working under different agendas focussing achieving independence in which BK Chingshu played the key role.

At the same time joining with Mr Ito, the leader of Meitei State Committee, Mr Thoiba Luwang also started working as a dedicated activist. Subsequently, as wished by BK Chingshu they made a serious attempt to bring all the likeminded militant groups under one umbrella which had been scattered across the state.

However, they failed to translate it into actions since the President Rule came into impose during its progress as the government was broken. This had made a huge chasm during the progress of uniting the leaders of different groups. In the meantime, Mr Ito lost his life in the hand of army and many activists were got arrested.

Moreover, BK Chingshu and Thoiba Luwang also fell in the custody of armies and were put into the jail. However, still they could not think about to leave their mission incomplete. After making a hard decision towards transforming the KPR as a powerful insurgent group they escaped from the jail with the help of two guards. Henceforth, BK Chingshu had to live as an underground militant.

Whenever, performing his duty in the public places he used to wear police uniform and made painting on the face so as to escape from recognizing him by the people. Moreover, adopting a new name called Kanglei Piba he had successfully established the KPR as an insurgent group.

In this novel, the aspect of setting apart from the group because of having conflicts among the leaders is also highlighted. Mentioned may be made here that the incident of separation taken place among the RJM leaders due to their conflicts as an instance. As a result of their incompatible attitude in the organization some were fell in the hand of police and got jail and many had been in a very indecisive position in the society.

Meanwhile, BK Chingshu and Thoiba Luwang mobilized those people to work with them for the KRP party. Using the rickshaw of Thoiba Luwang BK Chingshu had been in active on seeking confidential information from Kangla City and initiating different confidential works.

He says, thus:
I too, have established a power, wandering every night! Witnessing the city of Kangla! Making strategies! To build a new Kangla one day!
(1991:223)

In the novel the writer has drawn a clear picture of BK Chingshu and Thoiba Luwang, whose works have entrusted in the protection and the preservation of sacred places of the Meiteis. They wish to make the Kangla Fort free from the Assam Riffles and in subsequence of it, the name of Imphal Sahar be changed to Kangla Sahar.

On the historic visit of the former Indian Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi at Imphal, a strong agitation was made with the demand for procuring Manipur its statehood and for understanding/recognizing the historical facts that Manipur was an independent kingdom under the monarchy system. It was a common demand for all the people and in which BK Chingshu took a serious leader's role. Apart from these it was their demand to handover the Kangla Fort to the people of Manipur.

In order to keep the situation under control the armed forces used over power even by opening fire against the agitators. During the course of it many were shot and splattered with blood. Several people lost their lives and many got injured. Moreover, many individuals were unable to be located. As a result of such sudden movement, one daily bread earner named Meleirang, lost her life as shot by a bullet.

Further, another girl who claimed to be mis-located was found being thrown out after torturing with heavy physical harassment. In the novel, the wishes of the people about to improve the strength of the state which has declined are also clearly depicted. In this novel Maisnamba boldly attempts to unfold the deteriorating life of contemporary Manipuri society which has been caused by different factors including armed conflicts and other factors. Arresting innocent people, tortured and misconstrued the grievances of the people by the armed forces are also drawn in Kangla Diary.

From the above discussion, it has been seen that the reason behind the inclination of Mr. Birmani of Sorarengee Machanupi towards insurgency is grounded upon the challenges of the social, political and cultural identities which have come up after Manipur got merged to the Indian Union while BK Chingshu's movement is against the immoderate behaviour of the leaders, corruption and atrocious acts of the armies.

By interrogating the historical facts BM Maisnamba discusses the issues of insurgency from his own perspective in these two novels and attempts to give the relevance for contemporary Manipuri society. In fact, Maisnamba shows his sheer interest in understanding the tensions of the common people strata and the situation faced by the youths after Manipur became a part of India.

Moreover, his urge to find a peaceful solution for the grieve situations faced by the people is also reflected in his writing. From the study, this has come to know the deeper understanding of BM Maisnamba about the issues of insurgency in Manipur.

Concluded ....