Birth centenary seminar on life and works of Maharaj Kumari Binodini Devi conducted

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 18: A one day 'Birth Centenary Seminar on life and works of Maharaj Kumari Binodini Devi' was held today at the auditorium of Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA).
The seminar was organised by Sahitya Akademi New Delhi in association with the Cultural Forum Manipur.
A monograph about MK Binodini written by her son L Somi Roy was also released today as a part of the programme.
Convenor of Manipuri Language Advisory Board, N Kirankumar while presenting the inaugural speech said that MK Binodini was an eminent personality of Manipuri literature who was lovingly called as 'Emashi' and 'Sana Ebemma' by all. Recounting about the birth of MK Binodini, he said that she was born as the fifth child of Maharaj Churachand Singh and Maharani Dhanamanjuri on February 6, 1922.
Her birth was the most awaited one and all the relatives were present on the occasion as everyone was expecting it to be a male child however Maharani Dhanamanjuri was highly disappointed when she found out she has given birth to a girl child for the fifth time, he added.
He went on to state that this particular episode was narrated by MK Binodini to her son L Somi Roy and is also included in the monograph released today. He further recalled MK Binodini as an eminent writer and a great personality.
Renowned Manipuri film personality, Yengkhom Roma Devi said that MK Binodini had a strong yearning to preserve the dying cultural traditions of the State apart from being a distinguished writer.
She also lauded the remarkable works of MK Binodini especially the poems and film scripts written about 'Sangai'.
The seminar was also graced by Director of JNMDA, P Bilash and president of the Cultural Forum Manipur, Huirem Behari Singh and Regional secretary, Sahitya Akademi Kolkata ,Dr Devendra Kumar Devesh as the presidium members.
Today's seminar was conducted in two sessions where the first session was chaired by Rajen Toijamba while the second session was chaired by K Nayanchand Singha.
In the two sessions, many resource persons spoke on various topics related to MK Binodini.