Born 6 Feb 1922 in New Palace, Imphāl, Manipur, India

Ancestors

Died 17 Jan 2011 at age 88 in Imphāl, Manipur, India

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Biography

Maharaj Kumari Wangolsana was the youngest among the five daughters of H.H. Maharaja Sir Churachand (r.1891-1941) and Maharani Dhanamanjuri l. She was born on Monday, February 6, 1922 in the Palace of Manipur. ^[1] she was educated at Pine Mount School, Shillong, Ishani Smriti Mandir, Nabadwip, West Bengal, Tamphasana Girls' School, Manipur, St. Mary's College, Shillong, Vidyasagar College, Bengal and Visva-Bharati University. She was a celebrated Manipuri playwright, novelist, essayist, lyricist, activist and film maker. She bridged the two worlds of ancient royalty and modern life. She transcended the constraints of royalty to live to the full the life of an enlightened commoner and emerged as the iconic pioneer in the evolution of Manipuri modernism. M.K. Binodini Devi brought a deep humanism and a sense of beauty and esthetics to all her work. She made her name in the wider world as a novelist and a writer of short stories, essays, plays and screenplays of award-winning films, lyrics, poems and ballet scripts. But her work spread beyond literature and film, theater, and dance to sculpture, environmentalism, women’s issues, youth, social activism and electoral politics. Her work garnered accolades beyond Manipur on the national stage and in the international arena. ^[2] She passed away on 17 January 2011 in Imphal, Manipur.

Published works of Binodini

1)Nung'gairakta Chandramukhi (1965), Short Stories 2) Boro Sahep Ongbi Sanatombi ( 1979), Novel 3)Amasung Indrajit ( Evam Indrajit, 1990), Play by Badal Sircar, Translation 4)O Mexico, Lamkoi Wari (2004), Travel writing about Mexico, US and Europe 5)Maharaj Churachandgi Imung ( The Maharaja's Household, 2008), essays 6)Isei Binodinigi( songs of Binodini) lyrics 7)Asangba Nongjaabi ( Crimson Rainclouds, 1966), Plays

Film Scripts

1)Olangthagee Wangmadasoo ( feature film, original screenplay, 1980) 2)Imagi Ningthem ( My Son, My Precious, feature film, 1981) 3)Paokhum Ama ( The Only Answer, feature film, original screenplay, 1983) 4)Sangai, the Dancing Deer of Manipur ( documentary, 1988) 5)Ishanou ( The Chosen one, feature film, original screenplay, 1990) 6)Mayopeegee Macha ( feature film, 1994) 7)Orchids of Manipur ( documentary, 1994) 8)La (documentary, 1997) 9)Sanabi ( feature film, 1995) 10)Thengmallabara Radha-manbi (feature film, 1999) 11)Ashangba Nongjabi ( television feature film, 2003) 12)Ngahaak Lambida ( Short feature, 2006) 13)Nangna Kappa Pakchade ( feature, 2013)

Radio Plays

1)Baasi Marol Chumdaba 2)Imagi Ningthem 3)Imphal Kaba 4)Jahaanara or Ketaabgi Sagaikraba Lamai 5)Kanaana Keithel Kaabini? 6)Kaorabara Raas Saanabagi Ahingdo 7)Nandini 8)Nangna Kappa Pakchade 9)Ngaikho, Hingminakhisi 10)Sendrembi Cheisha 11)Shilpi, later Asangba Nongjaabi 12)Thengmallabara Radhamanbi 13)Ahing Amagi Wari ( based on Chithi, a story by Haobam Satyabati) 14)Charaangnaraba Nung ( Rabindranath Tagore's Khudito Pashan) 15)Nong Phaadok Laakpada ( Based on Lamabam Biramani's Atithi)

Essays

1)Adumulma! Nasung'lang'gi Oiramle 2)Ahong Yumna Hairi 3)Angaang'gi Rajniti 4)Churachand Maharajgi Imung, series 5)The Last Saheb: Bhasker Manisana , Series ^[3] 6)Daktargi Taloi 7)Darjeeling Chat'ngeida 8)Eigi Sang'goi 9)Eina Khangkhiba Irabot amasung Khomdonsana 10)Konung'gi chat'narol: Koning'lon amasung Thougal'lon 11)Meiteigi Yek'khotpa 12)Nong'goubi 13)Mexico! lamkhoi Waari, Series 14)Rabindranathgi Isei 15)Rabindranath Thakur 16)RoopRaag 17)Santiniketangi Amartya Sen 18)Shillion Raja Joy Singh 19)Shree Bhavan 20)Thoibido Waarouhou'i 21)Yaiskul Yai, Series 22)Yengkhom Ongbi Hemabati, series 23)Yumgi Leiteng

Ballet Scripts

1)Kong Hangoi ( Chindren's ballet, 1971) 2)Thoibi ( folk ballet, 1972) 3)Keibul Lamjao ( wildlife ballet, 1984) 4) Loktaklsei ( ecology ballet, 1991)

Translation from Bengali

1)Amasung Indrajir ( Evam Indrajit, Badar Sircar) 2)Solution X ( Badar Sircar) 3)Sakhangdaba kayani ( Koto Ajanare, Shankar) 4)Chrangnaraba Nung ( Khudito Prashan, Rabindranath Tagore) 5)Karna Kunti Sangbad ( Rabindranath Tagore) 6)28 Rabindra Sangeet ( Rabindranath Tagore)

Legacy

1)Zee Jaipur Literature Festival 'Binodini: Forgotten kingdoms, Remembered Histories ^[4] 2)Bibodini, by Ramkinkar Baij ^{[5] [6]}

Sources

1. ↑ The Court Chronicle , Cheitharol Kumbaba, ed. L. Ibungohal Singh and N. Khelchandra, ( Imphal, 1989) , p.595, " 1843 saka Era, Phairen... 9-ni Ningthoukaba numitki nongyai matung pung 5 makhaida Shri Maharanina Yumjao Lairenmagi sangda macha ibemma pok'a."
2. ↑ http://imasi.org/biography.php
3. ↑ https://haobamjohnson.wordpress.com/page/3/
4. ↑ http://archive.jaipurliteraturefestival.org/program2015/
5. ↑ National Gallery of Modern Art
6. ↑ http://ngmaindia.gov.in/virtual-gallery-ramkinkar-baij.asp