Dr Irengbam Mohendra’s latest book

Reviewed by Lt Col M Ranjit Singh (Retd)
Dr. Mohendra Irengbam has just published his eighth and last, according to him, book in London recently. I somehow do not believe his statement that this will be his LAST book. He, with his flair of writing, possession of vast knowledges on any subjects under the sun, combined with good command over English language, is capable of producing any number of books in a jiffy !
Before I review his book, I wish to share with all his fans that Sir has recently been awarded “Life Time AchievementAward 2024” by World Meetei Council. Congratulations from all of us.
Now back to the book. The name of his latest book is “Descention of Shree Shree Radha Krishna from Golak to Golak Dham Brindaban”. As the name suggests, the book is about the story of how Radha and Krishna came down to Braj Brindaban from Golak (Celestial Abode), to be born among the pastoral people of Braj Bhumi. This book is in fact transliteration of his father’s book which his father had translated from the Sanskrit composition of Ved Vyas into Manipuri in 1970. I hope it will not be out of place to write here few lines about his father.
Irengbam Gulamjat Singh (1896-1992), father of Dr Mohendra, was a civil engineer turned electrical engineer and was instrumental in bringing electri- city to Manipur. He contributed immensely to the Manipur Literature by translating Radhakrishna Prem- kali, Shrigovinda Leela Amrita, Shri Geet-govinda & others from Bengali and Sanskrit. Those were the days when there were not many books in Manipuri language.
We, those practicing Meitei Hindus, are mostly well aware of the birth of Lord Krishna in the Karagriha of Kansa. But the story of birth of Radha in Brindaban is not known to many of us, at least to me. According to the narrative of Ved Vyas-it so happened that, eons ago, in Golak, there was a quarrel between Radha and Shri Dam, a great companion and a sincere devotee of Lord Krishna. During the squabble, Radha cursed Shri Dham that he be born as a demon. Shri Dham counter cursed Radha that she be born as a human on earth, as a Gopi maiden in Braj. There she would have to spend some time as the wife of Ayan. And when she meets Krishna, it would be clandestinely and illicitly. On top of it, she was to be separated from Krishna subsequently for one hundred years. When approached by Radha to Lord Krishna with a request to countermand the curse, he consoles her that he also would be born as Gopi at the same time and they would be able to meet all the time in the groves of Brindaban. Eventually, Radha was born to Brishbhanu and Kirtida, a Yadav Chieftain of Barsana near Brindaban. The birth of Radha and Krishna on earth was for a purpose and it was for the redemption of the world.
As Krishna grew up in Gokul, he enjoyed playing Ras Leela in Braj Brindaban with Radha and Gopis. The separation of Radha from Krishna for one hundred years began when Krishna was taken to Mathura by Akrura at the age of eleven. After staying in Mathura until he was 28 years old, he moved to Dwarka. Why did Radha become the wife of Ayan ? The reason for this is given in the book. Ayan meditated to Shree Hari for seven births requesting for Shreemati Radhika, wife of Shree Hari, to be his wife. Ultimately Shreee Hari granted Ayan’s wish with a rider. Radhika was to be his wife at his next birth but he would be born as eunuch. Ayan asked for a supplementary boon that Radhika should never leave Brindaban without his consent. Shree Hari consented to this wish also.
The book describes the pang of separation suffered by Radhika for hundred years, the reunion with Krishna and their return together to Golak. The separation was to be for one hundred years only. But when the separation continued beyond hundred years, Lord Brahma had to intervene and send Narada Muni to Earth to organise a meeting between Radhika and Krishna paving the way for their return to Golak. There is a passage in the book which conservative Hindus may find controversial. Krishna has been unfaithful to Radhika, and Radhika in her jealous fury refuses to accept Krishna’s advances when he returns to her. The whole passage on page 108 reads as, “Completely helpless, with hands on my heart, I (Krishna) offered my headgear and flute at her (Radhika’s) feet. I then prostrated, touching her feet, and asked for her forgiveness. Even then Muni, you might be surprised, she got up and left me, inarticulate and looking away from me”. Interestingly, a similar passage would be found singing in Manipuri Ras Leela as “Dehi padapalabam udaram”, an original passage from Jaidev.
In sync with the antiquity of the original texts of Sanskrit in Bhagwat Puran, the author uses many old including obsolete English words in his translation. Even the word ‘descention’ used in the title of the book is obsolete and not to be found in any of the present English dictionaries. I, per force, had to use dictionary many times to read his book of 308 pages. I recommend all Hindus to read the book to enhance their knowledge on Radha and Krishna. For non-Hindus, they must read the book to educate themselves on other people’s belief and religion. Happy reading.