M. K. Binodini Devi

Maharaj Kumari Binodini Devi (6 February 1922 – 17 January 2011) was a writer from the Northeastern Indian state of Manipur. She wrote in Meiteilon (officially known as Manipuri language) under the mononym Binodini. She was best known for her 1976 historical novel Boro Saheb Ongbi Sanatombi, which won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1979. Its English translation, The Princess and the Political Agent, was published as a Penguin Modern Classic in 2020 by Penguin Random House India.

Binodini wrote in a wide range of literary forms and genres. She wrote short stories, plays, screenplays, essays, travelogues, lyrics, and translated Rabindranath Tagore, Badal Sircar and Shankar from Bengali to Manipuri.

Life
M.K. Binodini Devi was the youngest child born to Sir Maharaja Churachand Singh, KCSI, CBE, of the kingdom of Manipur and his Queen (Leimaren) Maharani Dhanamanjuri Devi on 6 February 1922  and was known by the name Sana Wangol or Wangolsana in the royal palace. M.K. Binodini Devi was the first woman graduate of Manipur. She married Dr. Laifungbam Nanda Babu Roy, FRCS, on 26 January 1950 and they had two sons L. Debabrata Roy and L. Somi Roy. The Sahitya Akademi published a biographical and literary monograph on M.K. Binodini Devi, written by L. Somi Roy in 2022, for its Makers of Indian Literature series.

The Sahitya Akademi also produced Binodini: A Writer's Life, a biographical documentary directed by Aribam Syam Sharma in 2003.

M.K. Binodini Devi was also a sculptor. She studied art in Santiniketan with Ramkinkar Baij. He painted many portraits of her that are now in the National Gallery of Modern Arts in New Delhi.

"Ramkinkar Vaij executed many portraits and paintings of the young MK Binodini as a subject. The entire Binodini Collection of paintings by Ramkinkar Vaij was acquired by the Gallery of Modern Art housed in New Delhi." Imasi: The Maharaj Kumari Binodini Devi Foundation was established in Imphal, Manipur by her son, L. Somi Roy and the writer's close friends and associates to preserve, protect and promote the legacy of M.K. Binodini Devi.

Literature
M.K. Binodini Devi wrote her first short story called Imaton while still a school student at Tamphasana Girls High School. "'My first short story was called Imaton. It is about a relationship between a youngman and his young stepmother. I liked it immensely as a good story. So, I showed it to my teacher, Oja Salam Tombi, who also happened to be my tutor. Contrary to my expectation, he gave me a sound scolding for writing it. He said it was unbecoming of me to write such an immoral adult story.'" Her first book was Nunggairakta Chandramukhi (ꯅꯨꯡꯒꯥꯏꯔꯛꯇ ꯆꯟꯗꯔꯥꯃꯨꯈꯤ), a collection of 19 short stories published in 1965, for which she was awarded the Jamini Sundar Guha Gold Medal. She received a Sahitya Akademi Award in 1979 for her magnum opus Boro Saheb Ongbi Sanatombi The historical novel is about her aunt Princess Sanatombi and Colonel Henry Maxwell, the political agent of Manipur. It is set around the time of Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891.

Binodini wrote the play Asangba Nongjabi (Crimson Rainclouds, Thema Books, 2012) (ꯑꯁꯪꯕ ꯅꯣꯡꯖꯥꯕꯤ), adapting it for the stage from her radio play. She wrote 15 radio plays which are published in the collection, Khonjel Leela Binodinigi (ꯈꯣꯟꯖꯦꯜ ꯂꯤꯂꯥ ꯕꯤꯅꯣꯗꯤꯅꯤꯒꯤ) (Imasi Publications, 2016). She translated Ebong Indrajit, the noted play by Badal Sircar as Amasung Indrajit (ꯑꯃꯥꯁꯨꯡ ꯏꯟꯗꯔꯥꯖꯤꯠ). Both Asangba Nongjabi and Amasung Indrajit were performed by artistes of Roop Raag in Imphal. Her play Asangba Nongjabi was also made into a television film 2003.

Her last book was a volume of memoir essays of life in the royal palace. Titled Churachand Maharajgi Imung (ꯆꯨꯔꯥꯆꯥꯟꯗ ꯃꯥꯍꯥꯔꯥꯖꯒꯤ ꯏꯃꯨꯡ) (The Maharaja's Household: A Daughter's Memories of Her Father, Zubaan 2015) was published in 2008.

Film
M.K. Binodini Devi wrote screenplays for Manipuri feature films like Olangthagee Wangmadasu (ꯑꯣꯂꯥꯡꯊꯥꯒꯤ ꯋꯥꯡꯃꯗꯁꯨ), Imagi Ningthem (ꯏꯃꯥꯒꯤ ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯦꯝ), Paokhum Ama (ꯄꯥꯎꯈꯨꯝ ꯑꯃꯥ), Thengmallabara Radhamanbi (ꯊꯦꯡꯃꯜꯂꯕꯔꯥ ꯔꯥꯘꯥ ꯃꯥꯟꯕꯤ), Ishanou (ꯏꯁꯥꯅꯧ), Sanabi (ꯁꯥꯅꯥꯕꯤ), Mayophygee Macha (ꯃꯥꯌꯣꯐꯤꯒꯤ ꯃꯆꯥ), Asangba Nongjabi and Nangna Kappa Pakchade (ꯅꯪꯅ ꯀꯞꯄ ꯄꯛꯆꯗꯦ). Her story Ngaihak Lambida (ꯉꯥꯏꯍꯥꯛ ꯂꯝꯕꯤꯗꯥ) was made into a short film by Haobam Paban Kumar. She also wrote the scripts for non-fiction films such as Orchids of Manipur, Sangai: The Dancing Deer of Manipur, and Laa (ꯂꯥ).

In 1981, Aribam Syam Sharma's film Imagi Ningthem (My Son, My Precious,  Cinewave 1981) based on her screenplay adapted from her radioplay won the Montgolfiere Grand Prix at Nantes in France. She wrote the original screenplay of Ishanou (Aribam Syam Sharma, 1990), that was selected for Un Certain Regard in the 1991 Cannes film festival. It was later recognised as a Cannes Classic in May 2023. She scripted the film version of the Manipuri ballet called Sangai:The Dancing Deer of Manipur by Aribam Syam Sharma that was selected as the Outstanding Film of the Year Award for 1991 by the British Film Institute (BFI).

Many of her films that she scripted also won national and state film awards in India, including multiple awards for Olangthagee Wangmadasu and the Best Story Award at the 9th Manipur State Film Awards for the movie, Nangna Kappa Pakchade in 2014.The award was given posthumously.

Songs
M.K.Binodini Devi wrote 68 songs and translated 28 Rabindra Sangeet into Manipuri. These were published in Isei Binodinigi (ꯏꯁꯩ ꯕꯤꯅꯣꯗꯤꯅꯤꯒꯤ) by Imasi Publications in 2014. She wrote lyrics for a song titled Lapna Lotna Leiyu (ꯂꯥꯞꯅ ꯂꯣꯠꯅ ꯂꯩꯌꯨ) for the first Manipuri feature film Matamgi Manipur (ꯃꯇꯝꯒꯤ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔ) (1973). Many of her songs are still sung today and are classics of contemporary Manipuri song. They were all performed by artistes of Roop Raag (ꯔꯨꯞ ꯔꯥꯒ) and were broadcast over All India Radio, Imphal.

Patriotic songs written by her such as "Kannada Sinnani Phiral Ase" (ꯀꯟꯅꯥꯗ ꯁꯤꯟꯅꯅꯤ ꯐꯤꯔꯥꯜ ꯑꯁꯦ), "Sukna Mamla Guha Nungda" (ꯁꯨꯛꯅ ꯃꯝꯂ ꯒꯨꯍꯥ ꯅꯨꯡꯗ) and Lairabini Hainei Ima Nangbu Mina (ꯂꯥꯏꯔꯕꯤꯅꯤ ꯍꯥꯏꯅꯩ ꯏꯃꯥ ꯅꯪꯕꯨ ꯃꯤꯅ)became anthems of the Great June Uprising on 18 June 2001. It was on the occasion of which that she famously returned her Padma Shri that was awarded to her by the Government of India in 1976.

Dance
M.K. Binodini Devi wrote the scripts for six modern Manipuri ballets. They were produced by the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA) where she served as Secretary for 11 years. They include Keibul Lamjao (ꯀꯩꯕꯨꯜ ꯂꯝꯖꯥꯎ) and Loktak Isei (ꯂꯣꯛꯇꯥꯛ ꯏꯁꯩ). "'The Loktak lake is a rich depository of several legendary tales. There is a big tradition, a huge cultural tradition associated with the lake. There has been so many literature on the Loktak, inspired by its beauty and charm, of its legends and folktales. That is why I have tried to write the ballet Loktak Eshei for the Jawaharlal Nehru Dance Academy.'"They use both classical Manipuri Dance and folk styles to tell stories based on Manipuri folklore. These ecological ballets created environmental awareness and public interest in wildlife preservation in Manipur. The film version of her ballet Keibul Lamjao's, titled Sangai: The Dancing Deer of Manipur, was produced by Sangeet Natak Akademi.

In 1976, M.K. Binodini Devi led a Manipuri dance troupe to perform at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC for the celebration of the US Bicentennial. The troupe also toured Mexico, Canada and Europe. In 2003, she wrote ''Ho Mexico! Lamkoi Wari (ꯍꯣ ꯃꯦꯛꯁꯤꯀꯣ! ꯂꯝꯀꯣꯏ ꯋꯥꯔꯤ) (O Mexico! Travel Tales''), a series of travel essays about the dance tour.

Essays and social activism
M.K. Binodini Devi used her literature in the cause for social issues. Her essay Thoibido Warouhoui (ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤꯗꯣ ꯋꯥꯔꯧꯍꯧꯏ) (The Pique of the Doe) (1971), was her basis for her ballet Keibul Lamjao. They expressed a profound admiration for wildlife and an earnest concern for the environment. "'I felt ashamed to ride in the presence of the animals. I got off and walked down the hill. The car followed me, stupidly.'"

The essay along with others Ahong Yumna Hyri (ꯑꯍꯣꯡ ꯌꯨꯝꯅ ꯍꯥꯏꯔꯤ) (The Ancestral Home Speaks to Me) and Darjeeling Chatngeida (ꯗꯥꯔꯖꯤꯂꯤꯡ ꯆꯠꯉꯩꯗ) (Upon a Visit to Darjeeling), most of them were published in Manipuri newspapers like Poknapham (ꯄꯣꯛꯅꯐꯝ) and Naharolgi Thoudang (ꯅꯥꯍꯥꯔꯣꯜꯒꯤ ꯊꯧꯗꯥꯡ)."'A woman of letters, she contributes regularly to the local dailies such as Poknapham, Naharolgi Thoudang and the Imphal Free Press with letters, stories, articles and commentaries of current social and political issues in Manipur.'"M.K. Binodini Devi was active in social and political issues. She took part in the Quit India Movement in 1942, and was a lifetime president of the Manipur chapter of the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA). She was elected to the Manipur Assembly in 1951. "'M.K. Binodini Devi contested from Khurai Constituency in the Electoral College election as an All Manipur National Union candidate and she got elected...'"Her patriotic songs including "Kannada Sinnani Phiral Ase" and "Lairabini Hainei Ima Nangse Mina" are popular in Manipur today. She was also active in women issues. In October 2001, she founded LEIKOL (Leima Khorjei Kol) (ꯂꯩꯃ ꯈꯣꯔꯖꯩ ꯀꯣꯜ), a women writers circle. In 1975, she introduced microfinancing for market women and was the founding chairman of the Manipur Women's Cooperative Bank Ltd.

Publications (in Manipuri)

 * Nunggairakta Chandramukhi (Chrysanthemum in Gravel, 1965), short stories
 * Asangba Nongjabi (Crimson Rainclouds, 1966), plays
 * Boro Saheb Ongbi Sanatombi (The Princess and the Political Agent, 1976), novel
 * Amasung Indrajit (And Indrajit, 1990), translation of the Bengali play by Badal Sircar
 * O Mexico! Lamkoi Wari (2004), travel writing about Mexico, the US and Europe
 * Churachand Maharajgi Imung (The Maharaja’s Household, memoir essays, 2008)
 * Isei Binodinigi (Songs of Binodini, ed.: Aribam Syam Sharma, Chongtham Kamala; Imasi Publications, 2014)
 * Khonjel Lila Binodinigi (Radio Plays of Binodini, ed.: Chongtham Kamala, Dr. Tarunkumari Bishnulatpam; Imasi Publications, 2016)
 * Wari Macha Binodinigi (Collected Short Stories of Binodini) ed. L. Somi Roy; Imasi Publications, 2022)

Film scripts (in Manipuri)

 * Olangthagee Wangmadasoo (feature film, original screenplay, 1980)
 * Imagi Ningthem (feature film, 1981)
 * Paokhum Ama (feature film, original screenplay, 1983)
 * Sangai, the Dancing Deer of Manipur (documentary, 1988),
 * Ishanou (feature film, original screenplay,1990)
 * Mayopheegee Macha (feature film, 1994)
 * Orchids of Manipur (documentary, 1994)
 * Sanabi (feature film, 1995)
 * La (documentary, 1997),
 * Thengmallabara Radha-manbi (feature film, 1999)
 * Asangba Nongjabi (television feature film, 2003)
 * Ngahak Lambida (short feature, story, 2006)
 * Nangna Kappa Pakchade (feature, 2013)

Radio plays

 * Basi Marol Chumdaba
 * Charangnaraba Nung
 * Cheisra
 * Chithi
 * Imagi Ningthem
 * Imphal Kaba
 * Jahanara or Ketabgi Segaikhraba Lamai
 * Kanana Keithel Kabini?
 * Kaorabara Ras Sannabagi Ahingdo
 * Nandini
 * Nangna Kappa Pakchade
 * Ngaikho, Hingminakhisi
 * Nongphadok Lakpada
 * Shilpi, later Asangba Nongjabi
 * Sribon Chinggi Tamnalai
 * Thengmallabara Radhamanbi

Adaptations

 * Ahing Amagi Wari (based on a story by Haobam Satyabati)
 * Charangnaraba Nung (Rabindranath Tagore’s Hungry Stones)
 * Nongphadok Lakpada (based on Lamabam Biramani’s Atithi)

Ballet scripts (in Manipuri)

 * Kong Hangoi (children’s ballet, 1971)
 * Thoibi (ballet, 1972)
 * Keibul Lamjao (wildlife ballet, 1984)
 * Loktak Isei (ecology ballet, 1991)
 * Pebet (children’s ballet, 1996)
 * A Throw of Dice (based on the Mahabharata)

Translations

 * Ima (Mother, Maxim Gorky)
 * Amasung Indrajit (Evam Indrajit, Badal Sircar)
 * Solution X (Badal Sircar)
 * Sakhangdaba Kayani (Koto Ajanare, Shankar)
 * Charangnaraba Nung (Khudito Pashan, Rabindranath Tagore)
 * Karna Kunti Sangbad (Rabindranath Tagore)
 * 28 Rabindra Sangeet (Rabindranath Tagore)

Selected translations

 * My Son, My Precious (Imagi Ningthem). Translation by L. Somi Roy. Cinewave, Calcutta 1981
 * One Answer (Paokhum Ama). Cinewave, Calcutta 1982
 * My Little Friend (Imphal Turelgi Itamacha). Translation by L. Somi Roy. Sahitya Akademi anthology. New Delhi 2005
 * A String of Beads (Charik Pareng, in The Grasshopper and Other Stories) Cambridge University Press, New Delhi 2011
 * Crimson Rainclouds (Asangba Nongjabi). Translation by L. Somi Roy. Thema Books, Calcutta 2012
 * Sanatombi (Boro Saheb Ongbi Sanatombi). Translated into Assamese by Indramani Rajkumar; Sahitya Akademi, 2012
 * The Maharaja’s Household: A Daughter’s Memories of Her Father (Churachandgi Maharajgi Imung).  Translation by L. Somi Roy. Zubaan Books, 2015
 * Girls Hostel (Sri Bhavana). Translation by L. Somi Roy. Viswabharati Quarterly, 2018; Crafting the World, Zubaan Books, 2019
 * The Princess and the Political Agent (Boro Saheb Ongbi Sanatombi). Translation by L. Somi Roy. Penguin Modern Classics, Penguin Random House India, 2020
 * Nil Sandhyar Agun Megh (Asangba Nongjabi and Sri Bhavana). Translation into Bangla by Minati Ghosh and L. Somi Roy, Bhasha Samsad, 2022)

Biography

 * Binodini: A Writer’s Life, Film by Aribam Syam Sharma, Sahitya Akademi, 2003, 26 min.
 * MK Binodini Devi, L. Somi Roy, Sahitya Akademi, Makers of Indian Literature series, 2022

Awards

 * Nunggairakta Chandramukhi, Jamini Sunder Guha Gold Medal, 1966
 * Padma Shri, 1976, returned 2001
 * Boro Saheb Ongbi Sanatombi, Sahitya Akademi Award, 1979
 * Kamal Kumari National Award for Culture, 2002
 * Eminent Senior Writer Award, Sahitya Akademi, 2007
 * Lifetime Achievement Award, Manipur State Kala Akademi, 2011 (posthumous)