The Female Mosquitoes' Plight : Kang Amomgi Tentha
- From a book by N. Bemni Singha -

James Oinam *

Illustration by James Oinam

Once upon a time, there lived a mosquito. He was happily married to two female mosquitoes. He was very obliging husband and took good care of both his wives.

One day, he felt like going to market to do some shopping. So he called his wives and asked them if they wanted anything from the market.

One wife said, 'Nothing much. Just get me some chandon from the market. The one I'm using is almost finished. A lot of marriages and death anniversaries are coming in a few days.'

'Sure my dear,' replied the husband.

'And what about you, my dear. Don't you want anything from the market,' asked the mosquito to his second wife.

'Um...' thought the second wife and then remembering, 'Bring me a bottle of body powder. Summer has come. It's becoming hotter every day.'

'Alright, chandon and body powder it is then,' saying this he left.

The market was full of people. Vegetables, fish and sweets and all kinds goods were on display. The mosquito started flying towards the corner where ladies' items and cosmetics were sold.

Suddenly, he noticed a young man on the way. He had got a small acne in his bottom. Lifting his khudei (a cloth worn around the waist by men, like the lungi), he was scratching it again and again to ease the itch.

But he scratched it so much blood started trickling from it. Our mosquito was very obliging husband, but he was greedy and couldn't resist the temptation.

And so he flew to the man and bit the man's bottom with his sharp mouth to suck his blood.

In pain, the slapped the mosquito and he died.

Back home, the female mosquitoes were waiting for the husband to return home. It was getting late.

They became worried and sang:
O thajabu ngamba pamuba
Karigi hanlaktri haujik fau
Kanagi maningda chikludana
Khubakna thaduna shikhrabara?
Nupi eikhoibu thadoklam
Kadaida chatlibano nahakpu?

(O Dear, who is more beautiful than the moon
Why haven't you come back
Whose bottom did you bit,
And struck by hand got killed?
After leaving us women
Where have you gone?)

Singing this, the two female mosquitoes together flew in the direction of the market in search of their husband.

NB: The word 'sindur' (vermilion) used in the published story has been replaced with 'chandon' (sandalwood) here as I feel Manipuri society will probably more easily identify themselves chandon than with sindur, which mainland Hindu married women apply on their forehead. The practice is not seen in Manipur. Vermilion can be seen in Hindu temples in Manipur and is applied on the forehead of both men and women. Chandon, on the other hand, is commonly used in households by both men and women.


Source Details:

Translated from 'Kang Amomgi Tentha' story in the collected work Funga Wari, Vol. 3
Author: N. Bemni Singha
Book Illustrator: N. Nongdon Sana
Publisher: Naharol Khorjei Thaugallup Jaribon
Year of Publication: 1999