By Dr. Syed Ahmed, for TwoCircles.net,
Imphal: Three books written by Muslim writers were released on 12th October 2011 at a function held at the Training Hall of Agriculture Department at Sanjenthong, Imphal. The book-releasing function was organized by Writers’ Union, Manipur. The books – written in Manipuri – are Mohd. Abdur Rahman’s Echel amasung Khonjel (poetry), MM Ahmed’s Manipuri Muslimgi chatnabi amasung harou-kumhei (on traditions and culture of Manipuri Muslims) and Mohd. Salim’s Etha-thajadana (novel).
The function was attended by many of the prominent Muslim and non-Muslim writers of the state. President of Manipuri Literary Society, Dr. Lanchenba Meitei and President of Progressive Writers Association, Manipur, Salam Tomba Singh analyzed the books. President of Manipur Sahitya Parishad, Prof. Nongmeithem Tombi Singh Imphal was the Chief Guest of the function.
Releasing the books
Addressing the function, Tombi said that due to economic hardships literary activities fail to make much progress for many years among the Manipuri Muslims. However, over the recent years many Muslim writers have come up with some commendable works. They have made distinctive contributions in the Manipuri literatures by introducing Urdu, Fari and Arabic words, and idioms and phrases which greatly enriched the Manipuri language (Meiteilon), and also acquaints the non-Muslim readers on the society and cultures of the Manipuri Muslim community, he added.
Mohd. Abdur Rahman
Mohd. Abdur Rahman, 76, is one of the most prominent Muslim writers of Manipur. Some of his works on poetry are Thamoigi Kholou (1980), Pelle Taibang (2000), Eraldubu Karino? (2002), Sahir-Salima Luhongba (2004), Ngaklaba Punshi (2007). He has also written many books on Islam, which includes Roja (1986), Yusuf-Julekha (1987), Id ani (1987), Muharram amasung Karbalagi Lan (1992), Islam (1997), Khangfam thokpa Farj khara (2000), Lankon (2003), Khutbatul Wada (2009), among others.
He has been associated with many literary societies, namely Cultural Forum, Imphal, Liberty Publishing Association (served as President for many years), Islamic Cultural and Research Association (ICRA, founder President) and Writers Union, Manipur (founder member). Rahman has been awarded Sahitya Bhusan, 2003 by the Manipur Sahitya Parishad, Writer of the year, 2004 by the Naharol Sahitya Premi Samiti, Imphal, Certificate of Honour, 2009 by the State Central Library, Imphal.
Rahman was born in 1935 at Keikhu Muslim Awang Leikei in Imphal East district. He served as an Accountant Officer in Agriculture Department, Government of Manipur.
The books released
MM Ahmed
MM Ahmed is also another well-known Muslim writer of the state. He has also written many books, namely Muhammadki Punshi Wari (1983), Quran Quiz (1996, 2006), Wakf Law amasung Wakf Chatnarakpa (2001), Hazrat Muhammad (2004) and Sahityagi Echelda Manipuri Muslim (2010, edited along with SM Sheikh). Ahmed is also associated with many of the literary bodies of the state. He is associated with Manipur Sahitya Parishad, Writers’ Union, Manipur (General Secretary from 2003-09), ICRA, Manipur State Kala Academy (General Council Member).
Ahmed was born in 1953 at Singarbond Village in Cachar district of Assam. Later the family shifted to Jiribam in Manipur. He completed his graduation from DM College, then under Guwahati University, in 1974, and also completed LLB from the same university in 1979. He is a lawyer by profession.
Literary works of Manipuri Muslims
The literary history of the Manipuri Muslims is traced from the early part of the 20th century. The early literary works produced by the Manipuri Muslims were almost all written in Manipuri and mainly deals with religion, and were intended to give to the Muslim masses the basic teachings of Islam. These religious literatures deal broadly with the history of the spread of Islam, life of the Prophets and their missions, commentaries of Quran and Hadis, and the basic obligatory duties, like prayers (namaj), fasting (roza), charity (zakat), pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj), life and death, etc.
According to Mohd. Abdur Rahman, a book written in Urdu, titled Musalman-e-Manipuri, was the first book published by the Manipuri Muslims. The book, written by Maulana Rahimmuddin, was published in 1934-36. Another book titled Punsiratki Pambai, written by Munshi Amanulla, was published in Jorhat in 1938. It was followed by a monthly journal called Thoudang, edited by Sihabuddin Kureisi and Hamiduddin Muhammad. Md. Abdur Rahman was also associated with the journal. The first edition came out in November 1957. However, it failed to continue after the publication of the first issue. Another journal Paygamme Islam was published by Maulana Hussain Ali in the 1960s. Most of these journals, according to Rahman, were Islamic literatures published to give basic Islamic knowledge to the Manipuri Muslims.
Mohd. Abdur Rahman giving speech
In 1959 Moulana Muhaijuddin and Moulana Barkatullah Haji published Janatki Sojai (Keys of Heaven). This was followed by a series of publications, namely Mohd. Maneruddin’s Janatki Leiteng (Decorations of Heaven, 1973), Maulana Ashraf Ali’s Wareng Taruk (1975), Haji Moulana Helaluddin’s Punshigi Pambai (1976), Kaji Mujibur Rahman’s Hingbagi Mangal (1978) and Fundamentals of Islam (1979) and Ma’arifatki Saktam (1990), etc. Books which document the history of Islam, the life of Prophets and the spread of Islam were also written, namely Moulana Hatim Ali’s Hajrat Muhammadki Punsi Wari (1980), Muhijuddin Ahmed’s Muhammadki Punsi Wari (1983), Mufti Siraj Ahmed’s Wali Nupi Taruk (2004), etc.
Some of the popular Islamic books written by well-known religious scholar in India were also translated into Manipuri. Maulana Abbas Khan translated some of the selected parts of the popular work of Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi’s Bahishty Zewer (Heavenly Ornament) (in 11 volumes) into Manipuri, titled Bahishty Zewergi Changkhollaba Artha (1988). Fazaile A’mal, the collection of works by the renowned Islamic scholar Hajrat Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya Kanhdhlawi was also translated into Manipuri by a body of Islamic scholars, led by Mufti Maulana Shiraj. The translated works came in two big volumes. The first volume (895 pages) was published in 1996, while the second volume (911 pages) appeared in 2005. These two volumes are the most widely read Islamic literatures among the Manipuri Muslims.
The wave of writing prose and poetry among the Manipuri Muslims came from the late 1970s. One of the pioneers in this field was Pukhrimayum Kayamuddin, who passed away in 2003 in a road accident. His first collection of poems, Ningamdaba Thamoigi Esai, was published in 1977, followed by another, Nungsaleima Thoraklo, in 1979. He also wrote novels, namely Sangsardagi Bidai (1977), Yathang (1978) and Nongallamdai Sajik (1984), and children’s literature like Jarullah (1983) and the translations from Arabian Nights, titled Alibabagi Wari (1990), and a book, Kohisthangi Wari. Kohisthangi Wari, translation of a popular Urdu book, was awarded in Children’s Book Competition, organized by NCERT, N. Delhi in 1989. He was also editor of journals like Khongthang (1978-80), Pandam (1980) and Mingsel (1980-93).
Kayamuddin spearheaded a literary and cultural movement among the Manipuri Muslims. He was among the founders of many Muslim literary cum cultural organizations, many of which are mentioned above. For instance, the literary cum cultural association, ICRA, formed in 1988 to develop the socio-cultural, literary and research activities among the Muslims in Manipur, gathered some of the promising Muslim scholars who took to cultural research, wrote books on various themes under the ICRA Publication Series, organize cultural functions and recognize Muslims who contribute in the literary and cultural field by awarding them annually. Kayamuddin was a towering literary figure who left an indelible mark in the literary history of the Manipuri Muslims.
Among the other prominent Muslim writers who made significant contributions in the literary movement among the Manipuri Muslims were Mohd. Khairuddin Choudhury and Prof. Abdus Shahid Choudhury. Both are Manipuri Muslims from Cachar. Some of the prominent works (collection of poems) of Khairuddin Choudhury are Minok Piranggi Mikup Anidang (1976), Sambalgi Marik Anidang (1978), Mukta Khujok Amadang (1979), Nongkhong Pareng Wangmada (1999). He was awarded Kamini Kumar Award (Gold Medal) by Manipuri Sahitya Parishad in 1977. The works of Shahid Choudhury on poetry includes Kunsuba Satapdi (1979), Sana Machugi Ayuk (1992) and drama Nongpokchingkai Hullakle (995), etc. He was also a Kamini Kumar awardee. Under their guidance and inspiration a wave of literary activity developed among the Manipuri Muslims in the Barak valley of Cachar district. They also took the initiative of instituting many literary organizations and published many journals in the Barak valley.
Manipuri translations of Fajaile A’mal (Volume I and II)
From the 1980s onwards there has been an increase in the publication of literary works by Muslim writers. Some of the works are, in poetry: Abdul Hakim Shah’s Malang Tantha (1978), Q.M. Kutbuddin’s Chingyagi Lairing (1979), A. Rahman’s Thamoigi Khollao (1980), Q.M. Hakim Shah’s Sagrailokki Esei (1980), Faizuddin Ahmed’s Punsigi Irolnungda (1986), K.R. Khan’s Thamoinungi Eroukhol (1987), S. Tahir Ali’s Amamba Maraksida (1998), Mufidun Nisa’s Mingselda Leichin (2006) etc., in novel: Latif Shah’s Sangsardagi Bidai (1977), Q.M. Kutbuddin’s Jinnat (1984), Benjamin M. Shah’s Begum Saheba (1987) and Khanguthakki Singarei (1988), Md. Ajur Khan’s Echel Amagi Wangma-Wangma (1991), Azad Komol’s Jihad (1993), Benjamin M. Shah’s Anarkali, etc., in short-story: M.A. Hakim Shah’s Fulwar Begum (1978), and in drama: Md. Sahidur Rahman’s Thamoi anigi Tengthakhol (1988), Askar Khan’s Aigi Dhrubtara (1997), etc.
Manipuri Muslims also started publishing books which traces their own history in the state. M.A. Janab Khan started the trend by publishing a book in 1972 titled Manipuri Muslim. In the book the author traces the history of the settlement of Muslims in the state. He also edited an archaic text (puya) Nongsamei in 1973 along with O. Bhogeswar Singh, which narrates the history of Muslim settlement in Manipur from the early part of 17th century down to the late 18th century. It was followed by many other works, like Khairuddin Choudhury’s The Manipuri Muhammadans (in English, 1976), Qazi Hamid Ali’s The Manipuri Muslim (also in English, 1979), Kullachandra Sharma and Badaruddin’s Meitei-Pangal Haorakpham (1991), and the recent ones A. Hakim Shah Khullakpam’s Manipur Governance to the Meitei-Pangal (Manipuri Muslim) 1606-1949 (2008) and Farooque Ahmed’s Manipuri Muslims: Historical Perspectives 615-2000 CE (2011).
Writers’ Union, Manipur, the only literary body of the Manipuri Muslims has so far published 28 books and 3 journals. The union came into being in 2006 after two literary bodies Liberty Publishing Association and Muslim Writers Forum merged. Muslim Writers Forum was formed in 2000 with an aim to encourage literary activities among the Muslims in Manipur and to publish books on various themes. Mohd. Abdur Rahman and P. Kayamuddin were the founding President and Secretary of the union.