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And That Is Why... Manipuri Myths Retold
A collection of endearing and vibrant retellings of Manipuri myths told for the first time ever to the outside world!Dear Reader, do you know · why the deer does not eat rice? · why man gets wrinkles and a stoop? · why the cat buries its poop? · why a doll is worshipped in a village called Kakching?Discover twelve magical tales from Manipur, the mountain land in the north-east of India on the border with Myanmar. Passed down by learned scholars, balladeers and grandmothers over hundreds of years, these unknown myths and fables are enriched with beautifully rich paintings that will transport you to Manipur!
112 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 21, 2021
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82 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 30, 2023
According to Joseph Campbell, mythology serves four functions.
1. Mystical: to evoke in the individual a sense of grateful, affirmative awe before the monstrous mystery that is existence.
2. Cosmological: to present an image of the cosmos, an image of the universe round about, that will maintain and elicit this experience of awe.
3. Sociological: to validate and maintain a certain sociological system: a shared set of rights and wrongs, proprieties or improprieties, on which your particular social unit depends for its existence.
4. Pedagogical: to carry the individual through the stages of his life, from birth through maturity through senility to death.
To understand a people, one must understand their mythology. Because even though the cosmological function has now been usurped by science and the sociological by the government, at the heart of hearts of the collective human psyche it is the mythology which sits in the driver's seat. And nowhere is this more relevant than India, a potpourri of multiple cultures.
Of late, the Northeastern state of Manipur in India has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Since early May, a horrendous conflict has been going on there between the Hindu Meitei tribe and the Christian Kuki tribe, almost bordering on civil war. The news coming out of the state is horrendous: gang rapes, lynchings, and arson has become the order of the day. The state and the union government are dragging their feet in taking strict action due to political reasons: viz. one of the tribes is a supporter of their majoritarian Hindu narrative of cultural nationalism.
In this context, I wanted to understand Manipur better. Sitting in Kerala, literally at the feet of the Indian subcontinent, this tiny Northeastern state is as good as foreign country to me. Fortunately, I have a good friend from there who sent me two books as a primer. Being a mythology aficionado, I tackled this one first.
And what a feast it was!
Somi Roy believes in old-fashioned storytelling. Here he is, a venerable old-timer with a white beard, sitting at a campfire in the midst of a lush tropical forest, regaling the reader, a wide-eyed child sitting at his feet, with tales of "wizardry and wild romance".
There are creation myths here ("And That is Why Man is Creative and Can Think"), animal fables ("And That is Why the Cat Buries His Poop"), local legends ("And That is Why the Weavers of Khurkhul Make Silk", "And That is Why a Doll is Worshipped in Kakching Village"), and even legends weaving history and mythology together ("And That is Why Manipur is the Birthplace of Polo"). But in all the stories is the presence of the supreme Sky-God Soraren and his children can be felt; also the fragrance of a lush landscape as yet unspoiled by "development", where humans and animals live together in peace. One can only rue how this Garden of Eden has been spoilt by the serpents of partisan politics.
The presence of Hindu, Christian and Greek mythical themes among these tribal narratives is an eye-opener about the universality of mythical themes. Soraren's son Asiba, tasked with the act of creation, makes man in "god's own image". The earth-maiden kidnapped by a god gets stuck on earth because she consumes earthly food (an inversion of the Persephone myth). And two children of god, tasked with circumnavigating the earth, do it differently: while one goes literally around the earth, the other circumnavigates his dad who encompasses all creation within him and wins the contest (people familiar with Indian mythology will immediately recognise the tale of Karthikeya and Ganesha here).
Illustrations by Sapha Yumnam, in the style of traditional Manipuri art, are captivating and provides the perfect accompaniment to Roy's fascinating narration.
A little gem of a book. To be treasured.
1. Mystical: to evoke in the individual a sense of grateful, affirmative awe before the monstrous mystery that is existence.
2. Cosmological: to present an image of the cosmos, an image of the universe round about, that will maintain and elicit this experience of awe.
3. Sociological: to validate and maintain a certain sociological system: a shared set of rights and wrongs, proprieties or improprieties, on which your particular social unit depends for its existence.
4. Pedagogical: to carry the individual through the stages of his life, from birth through maturity through senility to death.
To understand a people, one must understand their mythology. Because even though the cosmological function has now been usurped by science and the sociological by the government, at the heart of hearts of the collective human psyche it is the mythology which sits in the driver's seat. And nowhere is this more relevant than India, a potpourri of multiple cultures.
Of late, the Northeastern state of Manipur in India has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Since early May, a horrendous conflict has been going on there between the Hindu Meitei tribe and the Christian Kuki tribe, almost bordering on civil war. The news coming out of the state is horrendous: gang rapes, lynchings, and arson has become the order of the day. The state and the union government are dragging their feet in taking strict action due to political reasons: viz. one of the tribes is a supporter of their majoritarian Hindu narrative of cultural nationalism.
In this context, I wanted to understand Manipur better. Sitting in Kerala, literally at the feet of the Indian subcontinent, this tiny Northeastern state is as good as foreign country to me. Fortunately, I have a good friend from there who sent me two books as a primer. Being a mythology aficionado, I tackled this one first.
And what a feast it was!
Somi Roy believes in old-fashioned storytelling. Here he is, a venerable old-timer with a white beard, sitting at a campfire in the midst of a lush tropical forest, regaling the reader, a wide-eyed child sitting at his feet, with tales of "wizardry and wild romance".
There are creation myths here ("And That is Why Man is Creative and Can Think"), animal fables ("And That is Why the Cat Buries His Poop"), local legends ("And That is Why the Weavers of Khurkhul Make Silk", "And That is Why a Doll is Worshipped in Kakching Village"), and even legends weaving history and mythology together ("And That is Why Manipur is the Birthplace of Polo"). But in all the stories is the presence of the supreme Sky-God Soraren and his children can be felt; also the fragrance of a lush landscape as yet unspoiled by "development", where humans and animals live together in peace. One can only rue how this Garden of Eden has been spoilt by the serpents of partisan politics.
The presence of Hindu, Christian and Greek mythical themes among these tribal narratives is an eye-opener about the universality of mythical themes. Soraren's son Asiba, tasked with the act of creation, makes man in "god's own image". The earth-maiden kidnapped by a god gets stuck on earth because she consumes earthly food (an inversion of the Persephone myth). And two children of god, tasked with circumnavigating the earth, do it differently: while one goes literally around the earth, the other circumnavigates his dad who encompasses all creation within him and wins the contest (people familiar with Indian mythology will immediately recognise the tale of Karthikeya and Ganesha here).
Illustrations by Sapha Yumnam, in the style of traditional Manipuri art, are captivating and provides the perfect accompaniment to Roy's fascinating narration.
A little gem of a book. To be treasured.
December 5, 2023
Fact: I didn’t grow up knowing about these stories even though I grew up with folk tales and urban stories as narrated by our aunt and grandmother
And now I am so glad I got to read these stories which originated from the place where I am from and these stories if not available now in this format would be lost forever. Heartfelt appreciation towards the author for compiling all these story in this collection and for making it available to everyone!
The presentation is perfect and the narration is quite engaging.
The content is colourful inside out, cover to cover, filled with original illustrations unique to each story.
The language used is easy and accessible for everyone.
Consider this book as a collectible already! You will get to know a lot more on the culture, a bit of historical fantasy characters, magic, new words when you read this book.
I am impressed! Totally recommended.
And now I am so glad I got to read these stories which originated from the place where I am from and these stories if not available now in this format would be lost forever. Heartfelt appreciation towards the author for compiling all these story in this collection and for making it available to everyone!
The presentation is perfect and the narration is quite engaging.
The content is colourful inside out, cover to cover, filled with original illustrations unique to each story.
The language used is easy and accessible for everyone.
Consider this book as a collectible already! You will get to know a lot more on the culture, a bit of historical fantasy characters, magic, new words when you read this book.
I am impressed! Totally recommended.
January 25, 2022
A spectacular collection of Manipuri myths and divine tales makes a perfect read for curious mythology lovers and children!
July 8, 2022
Beautiful illustrations accompanying this bunch of Manipuri myths . Though it is written for kids , I enjoyed reading the book immensely
September 10, 2021
Today we have a children's book, And That Is Why – Manipuri Myths Retold, by L. Somi Roy, that instantly connects to our heart with amazing stories right from a very beautiful place, Manipur.
The book is adorned with mesmerizing illustrations by the Illustrator Sapha Yumnamthat that boast about the art and culture of Manipur.
Take away from the book:
12 stories from the great lands of Manipur encapsulating their beliefs mostly passed down from generation to generation through the art of storytelling.
All the stories have a unique charm that keeps readers engrossed and spellbound.
These stories talk about the supreme Sun God Soren, who is bestowed with all powers, and he is the one who created every tiny creature on earth.
The stories are weaved around animals, landforms, birds.
How the facts that run to date are connected to the beliefs of the people of Manipur is worth knowing.
About the author :
L. Somi Roy is a cultural icon of the mystique of the North East. A native of Manipur, he promotes international polo and is a film curator who has organized exhibitions in the USA. He is also known for his translation of works by his mother, the famous writer M. K. Binodini Devi.
Final word:
It is a great way to learn about the fables and unknown myths that originated some hundreds of years ago and were told by the famous balladeers and great grandmothers. Must read for all children aged 8 and above who want to explore and deep dive into the mysteries straight from Manipur.
The book is adorned with mesmerizing illustrations by the Illustrator Sapha Yumnamthat that boast about the art and culture of Manipur.
Take away from the book:
12 stories from the great lands of Manipur encapsulating their beliefs mostly passed down from generation to generation through the art of storytelling.
All the stories have a unique charm that keeps readers engrossed and spellbound.
These stories talk about the supreme Sun God Soren, who is bestowed with all powers, and he is the one who created every tiny creature on earth.
The stories are weaved around animals, landforms, birds.
How the facts that run to date are connected to the beliefs of the people of Manipur is worth knowing.
About the author :
L. Somi Roy is a cultural icon of the mystique of the North East. A native of Manipur, he promotes international polo and is a film curator who has organized exhibitions in the USA. He is also known for his translation of works by his mother, the famous writer M. K. Binodini Devi.
Final word:
It is a great way to learn about the fables and unknown myths that originated some hundreds of years ago and were told by the famous balladeers and great grandmothers. Must read for all children aged 8 and above who want to explore and deep dive into the mysteries straight from Manipur.
August 9, 2022
I bought this book for Buana, my 8years old, and I am excited that he is going to have this delightful read soon.
The book is a collection of twelve Manipuri myths retold mostly from oral narratives passed on for generations and Manipuri manuscripts collectively called 'puya'. The degree of research went into this book is applaudable.
These stories tell you the ancient myth of creation, why the weavers of Khurkhul produce silk, why bamboo grows on Karang island,why cat burries its poop, why a doll is worshipped in a village called Kakching, why Manipuri pony is sacred, and why Manipur is the birthplace of Polo. (Boo is going to learn all of these! 😇)
Each story contains treasure trove ancient Manipuri wisdoms and beliefs. The book itself is a revisit to myths through which one can trace back their Manipuri cultural consciousness and social identity.
L.Somi Roy's knack for story telling paired with Sapha Yumnam's exquisite illustrations are a perfect way of introducing children to the distinct visual retelling of myths.
The book is a collection of twelve Manipuri myths retold mostly from oral narratives passed on for generations and Manipuri manuscripts collectively called 'puya'. The degree of research went into this book is applaudable.
These stories tell you the ancient myth of creation, why the weavers of Khurkhul produce silk, why bamboo grows on Karang island,why cat burries its poop, why a doll is worshipped in a village called Kakching, why Manipuri pony is sacred, and why Manipur is the birthplace of Polo. (Boo is going to learn all of these! 😇)
Each story contains treasure trove ancient Manipuri wisdoms and beliefs. The book itself is a revisit to myths through which one can trace back their Manipuri cultural consciousness and social identity.
L.Somi Roy's knack for story telling paired with Sapha Yumnam's exquisite illustrations are a perfect way of introducing children to the distinct visual retelling of myths.
June 4, 2023
A beautiful and captivating collection of folktales from Manipur. I truly enjoyed reading this book. So much that I finished it in one sitting. Highly recommend it for kids and adults who do not mind indulging themselves with short stories. Also, the illustrations are absolutely beautiful and breathe life into the characters as you go through the stories.
August 22, 2024
Interesting stories but for subjective tastes i found them boring, though variation of Ganesha story in the form of atory of Manipuri pony was interesting find - makes me very curious about the osmosis of stories through cultures. The illustrations were simply beautiful and wonderful - someone should make postcard out of them!
August 10, 2024
A short but sweet collection of fables and legends from a place that doesn’t get written about all that much in the first place. Children will love the narration’s bedtime story style, while older readers will appreciate the rare glimpse it offers into the history, culture, and landscape of Manipur. Light reading it may be, but it’s worth your while.
June 17, 2022
Great book for both kids and adults alike. History and Muthu has always been of interest so this book has been a great find. Beautiful illustrations, lovely stories . Definitely recommend it.
June 6, 2025
I wish I had this book back when I was in elementary school🩵🧡
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews