Imphal, October 10, 2026: In another significant milestone in its literary journey, the Writers’ Forum, Imphal, released Manipuri Short Stories (in Tangkhul Language) at Nagaram Community Hall, near Eagle High School, Imphal, marking an important step towards strengthening literary and cultural ties between the Tangkhul and Manipuri communities.The book comprises sixteen short stories originally written by sixteen well-known Manipuri writers and translated into Tangkhul by Mark Chiphang through the English language. The publication seeks to bring Manipuri literature to a wider readership while fostering greater cultural understanding and literary exchange among indigenous communities.
A Milestone in Literary Exchange
The release function brought together writers, scholars, literary enthusiasts, leaders of various Tangkhul organisations, and Meira Paibis, all of whom gathered to celebrate the occasion. The publication marks a memorable day in the literary history of both the Tangkhul and Manipuri communities, highlighting the role of translation in preserving and sharing literary traditions.
By making these stories available in Tangkhul, the Writers’ Forum, Imphal, continues its efforts to ensure that literature transcends linguistic boundaries and reaches readers across different communities. Such initiatives create opportunities for readers to experience the ideas, narratives, and cultural perspectives of writers from other linguistic backgrounds.
Continuing a Tradition of Translation
The Tangkhul edition follows the Forum’s earlier publications of the same collection of Manipuri short stories in Paite, Mao, and Kabui languages. These publications reflect the organisation’s continuing commitment to promoting Manipuri literature through translation into other indigenous languages.
The initiative demonstrates how literary translation can serve as a bridge between communities, encouraging mutual appreciation while helping preserve the linguistic and cultural diversity of Manipur.
Distinguished Guests at the Release Function
The book was formally released by the Chief Guest, Lamabam Viramani, recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award. The programme was attended by the Guests of Honour: Ayung Raikhan, retired Programme Executive of All India Radio (AIR); Z. Michael Zimik, retired Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP), Government of Manipur; Irungbam Basata, President of the Writers’ Forum, Imphal; and M. Notilal, Secretary of the Forum.
Promoting Literature Across Languages
The release of Manipuri Short Stories (in Tangkhul Language) represents another step in the Writers’ Forum, Imphal’s ongoing endeavour to make Manipuri literary works accessible to readers from diverse linguistic communities. Through such publications, the Forum continues to encourage literary dialogue, strengthen cultural connections, and celebrate the shared heritage of the people of Manipur.
The publication stands as a reminder that literature can bring communities closer together, allowing stories to travel beyond the language in which they were first written and find new meaning among readers across generations.
