Nongmaithem Pahari a Legend

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Nongmaithem Pahari - A Legend - Undying Melodies of His Life -

By: Aheibam Prahlad *

He came. He crooned. He captivated many a heart with his music. And he lived a life that can be called almost perfect before he passed on to the other side peacefully.

Nongmaithem Pahari's life was like a well-composed song made out of an unconventional yet beautifully crafted lyrics. A symphony purposefully created to entertain, set an example and convince the meaning of life and freedom to the people.

His life was an interesting subject to analyse. The more you know about his life, the more interested you become. His life was full of events with lots of twists, ups and downs thrown in between, and it seemed so complete and meaningful like a magnum opus of an author.

Hard times came to him like a refrain. The hardship of loosing his mother even before he learnt to feel the warmth of mother's love, the oddity of becoming a war refugee at the age of 8, the pain of a long three years of forced separation from his wife and five-month old first son, the awkwardness of having to live with the consequences of a paralytic stroke.

Nongmaithem Pahari - A Legend

Nongmaithem Pahari as strong-willed as he always was would not let the adverse situations get the better of him and instead accepted them as a part of his life as if giving them a tune and humming in harmony with the rhythm of the times in an inimitable way.

He looked like a person who was in peace with himself at all times. Anybody who has associated with him in one way or the other would agree to the fact that he was a thorough gentleman, a modest and sincere person.

Music played the greatest part in his life. He would also often say that his life was inseparable with music. Music was his company in his hard times and good times alike. It was his music that earned him name and fame everywhere he went - be it in Manipur or outside, inside the jail in Imphal or Agartala.

Many a time he decided to give up music but his soul would never allow him to abandon this true love of his life. Even after his voice became slurred following the stroke he suffered sometime in 1998, which was one of the greatest shocks of his life, he would not resign to his fate just like that. He continued to compose music until the last few days of his life.

The masterpieces he created are a testimony to his greatness and the genius he was. His popular numbers are not one or two or for that matter a few but many dozens.

This article is not going into detail to discuss his works, which in itself would run into volumes, and even if we discuss here about a few of them like Ningshingli Meragi Thabaldo, Ho Ema Manipur, Eigi Ishei Saklaroi, Lamkhunu, Ho Bansi, Nangna Leini, Nangi Maithong Yenglubada, Asumna Cheina Piramba, Napam Lamdam, Ha Thambal and Ahingi Ningol and leave aside the many other equally great numbers, it would be an injustice done to them.

Nongmaithem Pahari was arguably the greatest force in popularising modern Manipuri music. Anybody from the music circle in Manipur would hardly deny this fact. The respect his name commands in this circle can be understood as a proof. How pleased he was when modern Manipuri song was recognised as a creative art form and September 30 was announced as Manipuri Matam Ishei Numit.

Nongmaithem Pahari was genuinely concerned about the status quo of Manipur, its past and its future. In his book Eigi Diarydagi, he presented a very clear picture of the genesis of the revolution in Manipur.

Talking about his book, he expressed, "It's been more than forty years since the first foundation of the present revolution in Manipur was laid. This is something that cannot be taken lightly.

To save matters from slipping into the abyss of confusion with time, I am presenting this book considering that it may make whatever little contribution it can in ensuring the pages of the Revolutionary History contain the genuine facts."

There are many portions in his book that require one to read between the lines. He wrote about the dilemma the Maharajah of Manipur faced at Shillong during the merger process.

Commenting on the not-so-mutual Merger Agreement signed between the Government of India and the Maharajah of Manipur on September 21, 1949, he wrote, "The course of history could have been otherwise had he (Maharaj Bodhachandra) said, 'Do whatever you want, kill me if you have to, but I will never sign the agreement paper without the consent of my people'."

With Nongmaithem Pahari's demise, Manipur lost a patriotic son, the music society lost a legendary torch bearer, people of Manipur lost a concerned compatriot and a genius, his family lost a loving husband and a caring father and the whole humankind lost a great life and a good human being.

My decade long association with Pabung, as I fondly called him, has taught me so much about life. In him, I saw many admirable qualities. To me, he was a very good friend, an idol, a guiding star, an inspiration, the greatest musician I have known and the perfect example of a gentleman. How I enjoyed his friendship despite the fact that we represented different generations.

I will forever miss the discussions we had about so many things - music, stories behind his songs, different stages of his life, his ideas, his romances and his career. I will forever miss our personal correspondence where he wrote, above other things that sometimes are philosophical, about the sorry state of Manipur, the necessity of idealistic leaders in our society and helplessness people have to live with.

There are so many things I will miss about him and so many things about him that I will cherish. Though the vacuum created in my heart with his passing away will never be filled up, I have his love, Ahingda Khongbi Tamna, Ho Nongdol Leichil, Leibiyuko Chanabi and Kelaba Samjigi Leirangni to keep me warm until kingdom come.

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Pahari, the beloved son of Ching-lei-pak-ki Ima Manipur

Aheibam Prahlad (from Lucknow ) contributes regularly to e-pao.net . The writer can be contacted at [email protected] . This article was webcasted on November 01st, 2006

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