Rajkumar Madhubir (10 September 1942 – 5 September 2004), also known as R.K. Madhubir (Meitei: Madhubir Ningthemchamayum), was an Indian author and poet from of the modern-day Manipuri literature from Manipur. He is well-known for his emotionally charged short stories and English-language poetry.Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). "The Modern Period | Pre-World War II Literature | Poetry ; | Post-World War II Literature | Poetry". A History of Manipuri Literature. India: Sahitya Akademi. pp. 219–229, 255–265. ISBN 978-81-260-1586-3. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award for Manipuri literature and is regarded as one of the leading voices in Northeast Indian postcolonial literary expressions.

Early life On September 10, 1942, Rajkumar Madhubir was born in Nambol Kabowakching, a community in the present-day Bishnupur district, Manipur. Later, he made his home in the city of Imphal in Sagolband Thangjam Leikai.

Literary career In Manipuri, Madhubir started writing essays, prose, and short stories. Later on, he contributed to the growth of Northeast Indian Literature in English by publishing a number of collections of English poetry.

He published three major poetry collections in English:

The Shadow of Darkness (1998) The H-Hour Patient The Time Bomb and Other Poems

In the Manipuri language, his short story collections include:

Praloigi Meiriraktagi (Awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award, 1996) Leigee Khudol Amattang (2003)

Themes and style

Apocalyptic Vision Madhubir frequently uses both Christian and Indic eschatological concepts in his poetry to examine apocalyptic and dystopian themes. Concerns about social instability, moral crisis, and environmental degradation are all seen in his work.

Awards and honours

Sahitya Akademi Award (1996) for Praloigi Meiriraktagi Honoured posthumously as a literary legend by Sahitya Akademi (2012)

Selected works

Poetry Collections Source:

Lambel The Shadow of Darkness (1998) The H-Hour Patient The Time Bomb and Other Poems

Short Story Collections

Praloigi Meiriraktagi Leigee Khudol Amattang (2003)

Death R.K. Madhubir died on 5 September 2004 in Imphal, Manipur.

See also

List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Meitei

References