The Legends of Pensam

Evolution of a village

Book title: The Legends of Pensam

Author: Mamang Dai

Publisher: Penguin India

Pages: 192

Price: Rs 200

The Legends of Pensam is a collection of stories of three generations in a village in Arunachal Pradesh. It is a combination of legends and superstitions, which are intertwined with the lives of the village folks.

The book is divided into four parts constituting the phases of evolution and growth of the village, the lives and loves of the characters, and their passage through the various stages of life. While each story is complete in itself, there is a basic link between all of them.

The book begins with stories based on the first generation of villagers.

The village is portrayed in the primitive age with residents sustaining on hunting and primitive agriculture. The two men who stand out were the chief, Lutor and the interpreter for the British officials, the father of Rakut. There are also myths and legends wound into the stories, though the narrative gets somewhat laboured on occasions.

The second part begins with the setting up of an administrative unit by the British. A road is built and “civilization” enters. Two persons arrive from the outside world to know more about the village folks. They hear a few stories of the village and its people, participate in village activities and a feast, and then depart.

The third part covers the second generation of people, now adults. They have their loves and marriages — some happy, others somewhat tragic. This leads to the appearance of the third generation. They receive better education. Some go out into the world and achieve academic and professional distinction. They then return to the village. Social and economic development leads to construction of a satellite township where the elite congregate. The link with the traditional past is not broken. Modernisation sets in.

The fourth part leads to the aging and passing away of most of the second generation. The third generation enters middle age. A fourth generation appears, in its infancy.

All this culminates in the final story — On Stage. The author exhibits amazing descriptive powers and paints a vivid picture of the denouement.

Mamang Dai has done a good job in collecting these stories. She has woven them into a sequence through the relationships. The third and fourth parts have been very well written. The fourth part builds up into a good climax with the last chapter.

Another notable feature is that she introduces a strong element of thinking in her characters in this part. The old people sit and ruminate on the passage of their lives. They think of the past and friends departed, and engage in some philosophic thought. All of these are skilfully interwoven into the whole fabric.

What stands out is Dai’s descriptive ability. One can virtually see the green mountains, the flowing rivers – sometimes becoming raging torrents, the kitchen garden and the planting of paddy in the fields. Whenever she paints a picture in words she imparts a certain vividness and reality that few writers could achieve. It is very rare among Indian writers. Her choice of words is mostly simple. There is no superfluity. Her style is simple and concise.

On the whole it is a very good read, leaving one with the hope to read more of this writer.

(EOM)

H.W.T. SYIEM

Published on January 20, 2012

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120120/jsp/northeast/story_15029270.jsp