And That Is Why... Manipuri Myths Retold is a children's book based on 12 stories from the

Meitei mythology Meitei mythology or Manipuri mythology ( mni, Meitei Mi Lai Tingi Wari) is a collection of myths, belonging to the religious and cultural traditions of the Meitei people, the predominant ethnic group of Manipur. It is associated with tradi ...

Manipur Manipur () ( mni, Kangleipak) is a state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It also borders two regions of Myanm ...

, written by L. Somi Roy and published by

Penguin Random House Penguin Random House LLC is an Anglo-American multinational corporation, multinational conglomerate (company), conglomerate publishing company formed on July 1, 2013, from the merger of Penguin Group and Random House. On April 2, 2020, Bertels ...

India. It was launched by Member of Parliament

Rajya Sabha The Rajya Sabha, constitutionally the Council of States, is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of India. , it has a maximum membership of 245, of which 233 are elected by the legislatures of the states and union territories using si ...

and titular King of Manipur

Leishemba Sanajaoba Maharaja Leishemba Sanajaoba is the current titular king of Manipur, India, and a politician belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party from Manipur. In 2020, he was elected as the member of Rajya Sabha from Manipur. Debates on bills Leishemba ...

at the palace compound,

Imphal Imphal ( Meitei pronunciation: /im.pʰal/; English pronunciation: ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur. The metropolitan centre of the city contains the ruins of Kangla Palace (also known as Kangla Fort), the royal seat of the fo ...

on 21 June 2021. The stories are adaptations of tales found in the

puya Puya may refer to: * ''Puya'' (plant), in the family Bromeliaceae * Puya (river), in Russia * Puya, a variety of Guajillo chili * ''Puya'' (Meitei texts), traditional or mythological texts of the Meetei people * ''Culoepuya'' or ''Culo'e Puya'', V ...

s (

Meitei language Meitei (), also known as Manipuri (, ), is a Tibeto-Burman language of north-eastern India. It is spoken by around 1.8 million people, predominantly in the state of Manipur, but also by smaller communities in the rest of the country and in pa ...

manuscripts).

Background

L. Somi Roy. was introduced to the ancient Meitei manuscripts by the late scholar Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra. Roy was assisted by Thokchom Thouyangba Meitei, a scholar of ancient manuscripts, illustrator Sapha Yumnam, and Manipuri historian Wangam Somorjit. The author revisited the ancient mythological tales of the

Meitei people The Meitei people, also known as the Manipuri people,P.20: "historically, academically and conventionally Manipuri prominently refers to the Meetei people."P.24: "For the Meeteis, Manipuris comprise Meeteis, Lois, Kukis, Nagas and Pangal." is ...

, from a time before the arrival of Hinduism in Manipur. Sapha Yumnam created the illustrations using a similar red- and brown- based colour palette with little blue or black, similar to that found in the manuscripts. According to the author, first time Manipuri mythology being presented to the outside world and so he took extra care researching manuscripts, later writing, and oral traditions. In an interview with "

The Indian Express ''The Indian Express'' is an English-language Indian daily newspaper founded in 1932. It is published in Mumbai by the Indian Express Group. In 1999, eight years after the group's founder Ramnath Goenka's death in 1991, the group was split betw ...

", he said:

"We have high culture in dance and music, and even sports, but not much of a visual tradition. It is these rare manuscripts that make up the heritage of the Meitei community — and hence, need to be preserved as far as possible."

Works

The book contains 12 stories about mythical creatures, heroes, gods and goddesses from Meitei mythology. * And that is why Man is Creative and can Think: the story of the creation of woman before man. * And that is why Man Gets Wrinkles and a Stoop in his Old Age: a story about the lifespan of man being one hundred years. * And that is why the Deer Does not Eat Rice: the story of goddess

Phouoibi Phouoibi (Fouoibi) or Phouoipi (Fouoipi) or Phouleima (Fouleima) or Phoureima (Foureima) is the goddess and the female personification of the agriculture, crops, fertility, grains, harvest, paddy, rice and wealth in Meitei mythology and religi ...

, daughter of the sky God Soraren. * And that Is why the Cat Buries its Poop: the story of a tiger and his aunt, a cat. * And that is why the Duck does not Brood her own Eggs: a story about kindness. * And that is why the Weavers of Khurkhul Make Silk: the story of

Khurkhul Khurkhul is a village in the Imphal West district in Manipur, India. It is located north of Lamphelpat and from the state capital Imphal Imphal ( Meitei pronunciation: /im.pʰal/; English pronunciation: ) is the capital city of the Indian ...

silk making an imprint on Manipur. * And that is why a Magic Bamboo Grows on Karang Island: the story of the slaying of the dragon

Poubi Lai Poubi Lai (also, Paubi Loi) was an ancient dragon python, who dwelled in the Loktak Lake of Manipur, in Meitei mythology and folklore. It is also referred to as ''"Loch Ness Monster of Manipur"''. Mythology In the Loktak lake, the spirit of ...

Loktak Lake , image = , caption = Different scenes of the Loktak lake of Manipur , alt = View of Loktak Lake and Phumdis , image_bathymetry = , caption_bathymetry = , location = Manipur , coords ...

. * And that is why the Pied Cuckoo Drinks Only Rainwater: a story of community inclusiveness and also of a stubborn foreign pied cuckoo. * And that is why the Manipuri Pony is Sacred: the story of Samadon, a mythical flying horse. * And that is why a Doll is Worshipped in Kakching Village: a story of a little girl and her beloved doll. * And that is why the Fire in the Village of Andro Never Goes Out: the story of the connection between Manipur and foreign kingdoms like Shan. * And that is why Manipur is the Birthplace of Polo: the story of the birth of

polo Polo is a ball game played on horseback, a traditional field sport and one of the world's oldest known team sports. The game is played by two opposing teams with the objective of scoring using a long-handled wooden mallet to hit a small hard ...

, and stories about the Goddess

Konthoujam Tampha Lairembi ) , deity_of = Queen of Heaven , member_of = Lairembis and Umang Lais , image = CHINGPHULON KONTHOUSU.jpg , alt = , caption = "Chingphulon Konthousu", the birth name of the goddess Tampha, written in archaic ...

and the adventures of her son,

Khoriphaba Khoriphaba (also, Khoiriphaba) is a God in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak (Antique Manipur). He is the son of Sky God Salailen and Goddess Konthoujam Tampha Lairembi. He came down from heaven to earth to ...

References

{{Reflist 2021 children's books Children's books based on Asian myths and legends Meitei culture Meitei folklore in popular culture Meitei mythology in popular culture Mythology books

Background

Works

See also

References