#404 - And That is Why - Manipuri Myths Retold

by L. Somi Roy and illustrated by Sapha Yumnam

“And That is Why - Manipuri Myths Retold” by L. Somi Roy and illustrated by Sapha Yumnam. Published by Penguin. A delightful collection of twelve unusual and fascinating tales from the rich folklore of Manipur.

India is a diverse country of various cultures each having their own rich repository of folklore. Manipur which is a mountain land in the north east of India on the border with Myanmar is no less when it comes to myths and folk tales. The book has a collection of vibrant retellings of myths and fables which have been passed down generations by balladeers, learned scholars and elders over hundreds of years. For the first time ever, these tales have been told to the world outside of Manipur through this magical book which is replete with stunning illustrations inspired by Manipuri manuscript styles.

Each of the twelve stories tell the reader about why certain animals or birds behave in a particular way or why some unusual traditions are practiced to this day in Manipur or why certain things happen around us. For instance, Why the Pied Cuckoo drinks only rainwater? Or Why is a doll worshipped in the village of Kakching? or Why man gets wrinkles and a stoop when he gets old? The author narrates each of the stories as himself in first person in an endearing manner to the reader evoking a plethora of expressions or emotions which they are bound to feel at that point in the story. Read this fantastic one of a kind book to get a glimpse into the beautiful landscape of Manipur and a rare peek into their enriching folklore.

My almost nine year old and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this charming book. He was hooked to these unusual stories right from the start. And he listened to every one of them with rapt attention. I was amazed when I saw him make connections across stories when some of the characters reappeared in later stories. The illustrations are vivid and stunning to say the least. They are very different and unusual. The stories transported us to the beautiful land of Manipur and experience its culture and way of life. Themes of magic, adventure, friendship, community bonding and kindness come across through the stories of gods and goddesses, animals and humans. While some stories are mythological in nature, there are a couple of them which have a bit of history entwined in them. Soraren, the sky god and eternal creator of everything on earth became an instant favourite. I was fascinated to find a story on why silk is woven in the Moirang region of Manipur. Those who are interested in the handlooms of India would know of the “Moirang Phee” sarees :) There is a story on how the game of Polo came to be played in Manipur. We also loved the way in which the author keeps addressing the reader in a fond manner. Expressions like Dear Puzzled One, Dear Enchanted One, Dear Respected One, Dear Energetic One and so on. This is something different we felt. And to think that we had this book lying in our shelf untouched for almost a year feels like a sacrilege now! This was one of the books that I had gifted to my son on his eighth birthday :) Thankfully we made amends by reading it before the next one!

Recommended Age

The book is apt for children aged 8 and above.

Reasons to Read

The book is an ideal means to get a wonderful glimpse into the rich folklore and mythology of Manipur.