U A Shimray
I first read Bhattachryya Birendra Kumar’s novel Yaruingam (People’s Rule) when I was doing my MA (Final) in Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi in 1997. At that time I read it as just another normal novel without much understanding. I photo copied the novel from my friend’s fathers collection. After a gap of eight this novel reappeared in my cupboard when I re-shuffled my books. Then I quickly scaned the whole content of the novel which reflected the author’s comment in the preface of the novel- “I shall be happy if the readers feel that I have been able to communicate that experience even partially through the fiction form.” The novel though depicts in fictional form, the characters and story underline many real situations, incidences, meanings and political scenario. The novels insight shows the Nagas’ traditional system and the whole story is connected to the various aspects like entangled romances, Nagas’ social and political discourses and religion. This is one of the first kinds of novel on Nagas, which is well researched, with good observation and meaningfully written of the times.
Bhattachryya Birendra Kumar, is a distinguished Assamese novelist. He served as a science teacher in the Venture Christian Mission High School in Ukhrul, Manipur, for two years (1950-52). The novel “Yaruingam” published in 1960 written in Assamese is one of his earliest novels and won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1961. The English edition was published in 1984 by the Christian Literature Centre, Guwahati. The publisher’s note remarks as “‘Yaruingam’ meaning ‘People’s Rule’, is a fascinating novel which deals with the life of the Naga people living in the North East corner of India, and incidentally it throws open the window of the Naga world to the readers in English.” Dr. Rabi Kumar Dasgupta comment “Yaruingam, was a unique creation, as a moving story of the Tangkhul Nagas of Ukhrul in Manipur…I call Yaruingam a unique creation because when it appeared, we normally turned to the works of Fulr Haimendorf or Varier Elwin or to census reports for our knowledge about the Nagas and our approach would be mostly anthropological. Birendra Kumar presented the Nagas as part of the human situation in the country and he presented them with an imaginative sympathy and understanding which go into the making of a great work of art.”
The author in his preface gave certain perceptive regarding the novel although he was redundant of writing preface for a work of fiction. He writes, “Some of my Naga friends, who include Mr. Rishang Keishing, now the Chief Minster of Manipur, and Mr. Z. Ramyo, a well known Naga leader, helped me in getting insights into the Naga mind…The men and women in the Tangkhul land deeply impressed me. They were then living in stirring times and I shared their joy and sorrows. I got my theme and characters out of that moving experience.”
The following text is an abstract from the Novel:
First: Abstract from page 12:
Rishang handed the flowers to Sharengla. She took the roses, but handed back the orchid.
“Take it,” Sharengla implored.
Rishang smiled and took it in his hand.
“It is for the sake of the past,” said Rishang calmly. “We can no longer behave in the old manner. You know that, don’t you?”
“I know.”
They now walked faster. It was beginning to rain…
Second: A dialogue between father Ngazek and son Khating (from page 30 to 32):
“He is the only young Naga who has an independent mind. Nagas should unite. That is a fine idea. He wants us to be free. That is also a good idea,” Ngazek argued vehemently. “Do you see my point?” (He refers to Videsselie from Khanoma village belonging to Angami Nagas)
“May be the two ideas are good. Who does not want to unite? Who does not want to be free” Why should not the Nagas unite with the Manipuri, Assamese and other Indian? If freedom comes, it will come through the efforts of all. Do you see my point?” Khating said.
“The Nagas need a different kind of freedom. The Christianity and the modern education are taking us on the wrong path. I want neither the white men, nor the black men. I have no love for Japanese either. The Nagas were happier when they were naked. We had no food problem. Our needs were few and we were able to satisfy them. We happily lived without money, machines and superfluous things.” Ngazek asserted. ‘We want to live in our own way. Today foreign ideas rule our life.”
Khating did not agree. He explained how Christianity and education had widened the outlook of the Nagas…
“Because of your teaching the people will no longer be real Nagas. To be modern, to be apes, apes of your masters. Puny white men. Puny black men. Mental slaves,” Ngazek replied insistently. “You see the Sahibs laugh at you when you ape them. They don’t consider you to be their equal. Are you not ashamed of it?”
The conversation continued with intensity for some time. Ngazek did not give up his viewpoint. Khating stuck to his. He said, “Look father, we can be better Nagas only by giving up our ways.”
“I do not agree,” Ngazek said. “You are lost son. I know I will never be able to get you back. That is why I am looking for some other young man. You may become a big person, but not in my estimation. Now tell me why have you come?”
Khating asked his permission to marry the Khasi girl with whom he was already engaged…
Ngazek’s face became clouded. He said, “I have nothing to do with the marriage. It is your marriage arranged by you and to be performed by you. Do you follow? You go your own way, and I shall go mine.
Third: Abstract from page 85:
Nagzek smiled faintly and replied, “Perhaps not. I am not taking into account his religion, but his qualities. He is a true Naga that is why I want to have him as a thilakapo.”
Videsselie broke his silence and said, “Ojha Nagzek is the only man who has been able to appreciate my view point.”
Nagthingkhui asked, “What is that viewpoint? Is it your movement for independence?”
“Yes.”
Nagzek eagerly heard Videsselie’s reply to his query. He said slowly, “A man should not be known by what he worships but what he thinks. The Nagas must regain their lost glory.”
Fourth: Abstract from page 145:
“You have become a skeleton,” exclaimed Sharengla. “It is because of constant work and great worry,” Phanitphang said.
“Why are you killing yourself?”
“We want freedom very badly,” Phanitphang sat down on the bed. “The people do not talk about us in kind term, I known it. They will appreciate us only when freedom comes.”
“What will happen?”
“We will be free like Englishmen and Americans,” Phanitphang said, “We shall have our own rulers, assembly and plan of development. We will rule ourselves.”
Fifth: Abstract from page 192:
“Jivan,” Rishang said, “some questions still baffle me. Can an unarmed man inspired by love change the heart of an opponent and guarantee the realisation of the aim of political or civil agitation? Can we persuade the Nagas to abstain from violence and civil strife simply by asking them to trust in Jesus or Gandhi? After all, human needs cannot be ignored.”
Jivan again laugh aloud, “Unless basic human needs are fulfilled, the good life is not possible. The spiritual and cultural awakening is not possible without such a good life. Revolutions are created in order to change the system which does not guarantee such a fulfillment. But revolution is not just violence or rebellion. It begins in man’s mind. So it is possible to achieve the aim of true revolution without weapons.”
Sixth: Abstract from page 192:
Rishang’s agitation mind suddenly became clam. Even if he was gone, apart of him would live on. That child would grow up and have children. And soon, from generation to generation, he would live through his descendants. They would work for peace, his unfinished work. At the end of this process, would come the cherished people’s rule.
He suddenly said to Khuthingla, “If it is a boy, do you know what he should be named?”
Khutingla blushed in modesty and asked, “What would you call him?”
“Yaruingam.”
“What does that mean?”
“People’s rules.”
“It is a strange name.”
“No, it is the best.” His heart filled with joy as he said this. All his thoughts about his future and the future of mankind were symbolized by his name. He was grateful to Khuthingla for giving him the happy news. He kissed her on both cheeks. She blushed again.
