Monday, November 03, 2008

Pu Buonglienkung | A Man of Poetry

Comes November 3, 2008. I was busy like a bee designing my ZOLENGTHE Souvenir. The clock struck 12 o'clock. I moved towards my bed. While I was about to sleep my Mobile received a message. When I look at it, I was so shock and was wordless. It was SinlengNews about Pu Buonglienkung who passed away so soon. As soon as I read the whole message I published it in ZOlengthe. But I can't sleep anymore, I kept awake the whole night, not out of scare but out of the emptiness and the voice he left behind. May His Soul Rest in Peace.

[*] Pu Buonglienkung Buongpui is a song writer, a music composer, a musician and a singer of the finest order, at least in so far as our standards are concerned, a father of five and a caring husband to a beautiful wife.

Born in the then small village of Muolvaiphei, Churachandpur, Manipur in 1970 and living there ever since, Pu Buonglienkung (so he is commonly known) belongs to the Hmar tribe of Mizo, is, by denomination, a member of the Independent Church of India (ICI), and by early profession, a cultivator. His testimonies talk of climbing the steep slopes of Kangzam hills in search of firewood or for the purpose of burning charcoal to help support his family — harsh moments made harsher by the reality of it all.

Buonglienkung was not born great. God remade him into what we now fondly remember him as, but only after much trials and hardships, for that is how a man is born. For the same reason, many of his songs are in praise of the Lord, seeking to thank God for the blessings He's bestowed upon mankind after the many fights and struggles. Buonglienkung's craze for music did come early in life, but the opportunities did not. Fortunately for him, the lack of opportunities didn't stop him from dreaming. Instead, he chose to linger and that is what made him what he is today.

When his first kid, Esther, became of age, he sent her to Mount Carmel School, Muolvaiphei. Likewise thus followed the other kids. But the thing about these girls was that they had already begun singing even before they started school, and what with the huge appreciation for singing prevalent at the time in Mount Carmel School, the girls had much better platforms for showcasing their talents and praising God in the mean time. That was one thing Mr. Buonglienkung made sure of. As of now, the girls had even done their own recording with their Mom and Dad, singing one of their daddy's own songs and their family's favourite for that matter, 'Rinumna Khelah Malsawmna (Blessings beyond Afflictions)'.

The year of 1999 marked a change for Buonglienkung as he joined the Rural Women Upliftment Society (RWUS), a Churachandpur based NGO. In the mean time, he served the ICI as Music Promoter on a contract basis, travelling to places as different and distant, rural and urban, teaching music to the Christian youths under the initiative of the ICI. Even before this, he had been with the ICI Central Choir as choir conductor for almost a decade, and has been, in fact, to this day. Then in 2004, he was elected as an Assembly Member of ICI and has been ever since. He also worked with the New Life Ministries (NLM) as music instructor.

Many of us probably came to learn of him from the NLM sponsored Champhai-Aizawl Tour of celebrated singer Lalruotmawi in 2006. Worth mentioning here is the fact that most of Lalruotmawi's first songs were written by Buonglienkung, including the hit 'Ka Hausakna Lalpa'. You might have noticed his enthusiasm and energy then at the Tour. That is a characteristic of Buonglienkung he is so known for. Everywhere he goes, from the remote village of Saipung in the Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya to Phulpui in the Vangai Hills of Churachandpur, from the North Cachar Hills to Aizawl or Delhi, he is unchanged. He always bear in mind the fact that the God he serves is unchanged no matter where, no matter when, and that gives him the ability to not differentiate a gathering of ten and a gathering of thousands. And that is why he is a life-long champion of musical gatherings.In his short lifetime of 38 years, Buonglienkung had written more than 210 songs, a figure the equal of which you'd normally not see. It's not just that. His songs are almost always instantly appreciated, a number of them being translated to different languages, and an even greater number sung by almost everyone. To get an idea of the magnitude of his songs, try going to any Hmar christian youth gathering or something the like, you're most likely to hear a couple of his songs being sung, if not more. That is Buonglienkung. That is God working through him. And in fact, most of the Hmar christian youth songs (Thalai songs) that I know of are his, what a shame I didn't give much attention to the details of songs I'd come across in the past years.

His songs had won him many awards and so thus his personality. The list includes Lelte award for Best Composer of the Year (2007), Achievement Award from DHWA (2004), etc, you name it. He also received citations and mementos from different organisations and christian groups, and his songs had been favourited in local music channels over weeks, and sometimes months.

Now just when things have finally began to fall into place however, just when his children are beginning to grow into shape, just when his family is getting settled, the cruel hands of fate should come creeping in and steal from us that we love, oh how so unfair! How so miseraby unfair when he spent even the last moments of his life serving God. On the 29th of October, 2008 (Thursday), Mr. Buonglienkung was still in the Parbung-Pherzawl hill areas of Churachandpur with the local church youths when a high fever gripped him. The malarial fever coupled with his diabetic body was too much to continue his mission there and was immediately rushed back home. On the 1st of November, Saturday, he was admitted to Churachandpur Civil Hospital from where he was transferred to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal the next day. Then this morning (3rd Nov., 2008) around 1:30 am, Buonglienkung left this world for his heavenly abode, leaving behind his loved ones, to be with the God he's served all through this time.

To the world, he died a music legend. To his four daughters and his son, he died a caring father. To his wife, a loving husband. And to me, he left as an inspiration. A man so dear and true, this world is too poor to hold him. And he may have died today, but ten, twenty, a hundred years from now, his songs will still live on. God be with the bereaved family![/*]

Source: [*]http://jothiek.blogspot.com/2008/11/buonglienkung-man-of-life.html[/*]





11 comments:

  1. Oh! What a valuable person is Pu Buonglienkung! I dont think we would have again such a great poet in the near future. O God! Why did you take him so soon. You should rather take me. There are thousands and thousands of worthy person to keep away on this earth. God, why did you take such a good people so early?

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  2. Pathian la 250 val phuaktu Pu Buonglienkung Malaria in si
    “Rinumna khela malsawmna"

    Lamka, Nov. 3: North East India huam sung a Singtangmite lak a Pathian la phuahsiam a minthang Pu Buonglienkung (38) s/o Phamsa Mr & Mrs. Lalzui of Muolvaiphei, tuni November 3, 2008 zinglam dak 1:30 in RMS, Imphal ah Malaria (PF) natna ziakin si a, tuni zinglam in a tenna inn, Mualvaiphei puaktun in om a, sunnung lam in amah ngainatu mipi tamtak in hanmual ah khaliam uhi.

    Thutut kingah dan in, Pu Buonglienkung leh a team-te October 10, 2008 in ICI Centenary 2010 ding toh kisai in Hmar biel ah kho tuamtuam pha in zin kual in October 28 in a tenna inn Muolvaiphei hong tungkik hi. Khualzin a hong tunnung in a taksa a chauhluat ziak leh kisoiselna tuamtuam a neih ziakin Dr. Lalzakung ki-ensak a, himahleh a lunggulh bang a a hoih theihlouh ziakin November 1, 2008 in Lamka damdawi inn puaktun in om hi. Doctor in hoihtak a a velchet nung in a natna lauthonghuai dinmun ahi chih a theihphet un RIMS a kintak a puaksuk ding a a sawl dungzui un hiai ni mah nitak dak 8 in puaksuk in om ngal a, himahleh a natna apan hutkhiak vual ahihlouh ziakin tu zingkal dak 1:30 a si hi’n thutut kingah hi. Tuabanah, BP leh zunkhum natna nei hi a, a si ma in hiai natnate leng sang mahmah hi’n leng thutut kingah hi. Amah toh bial fang ding a kuankhia Evan John leng Malaria PF natna ziakin Lamka hong tung theilou in, tu’n Parbung ah omlel hi’n leng thutut kingah hi.

    Pu Buonglienkung la phuah a siam mahmah kia hilou in mi nuihmai polhnuamtak hi a, a la phuahte a satu siam leh a kaih nalh kia hilou in khalam lunglengte a ding in ‘Hing’ mahmah a, Manipur a singtangmi omte’n amah la phuahsa in zou mahmah a, a phuah khiak masakte a hoihluat ziakin pau dang a lehkhiak a om pah ziahziah mai hi’n leng thutut kingah hi. Hiai in saptuamte lak ah kitanauna hoihtak leng tun hi’n leng thutut kingah hi. Hiai kia leng hilou in Mizoram, Assam, Nagaland leh Meghalaya tanpha ah a la phuahte lar mahmah a, a sih ni tan in la 250-300 vel ding phuakkhia hi. A la phuate lak a langsar mahmahte lak a khenkhatte bel, “Lal Davida khawpui, Lal Lengna, Nghakhla takin ka thlir, Rinumna khela malsawmna, Lalpa hung nawkna, Lawng chawlna khawpui, Ka khuolzinna hnuoi \awngsephur, Thiemthu hril thei kan ta nawh, Kross thilthawtheina ti le Ka chengna thlaler ram” ahi.

    Tuni a amah vuina programme ah CCpur pansan saptuam pawl tuamtuamte kimvek ua, Mualvaiphei Football ground ah galtute gari kitazoulou a, vuina programme zat hun sung in amah la phuahte kia sak hi a, galtute lungtang koih in mittui luanglou vang mahmah hi.

    Pu Buonglienkung bel Sept. 10, 1970 in piang a, Independence Church of India (ICI) ah music promoter dinmun lenlel a, Mualvaiphei NSSU Supdt. kum 15 sung lenta a, ICI Central Choir ah conductor hi lel a, la phuah a siam tungtuan ziakin 2007 in Best Choir Conductor of the year 2006 piak a a om banah, Moonlight in Special Award leng pia hi.

    Pu Buonga in a zi Laltlingzo, a ta pasal 1 leh numei 4 ban ah, amah ngainatu sang tamtakte nusia in tunitak in vuiliam in omta, Lamka Post inleng suun mahmah hi.

    http://zogam.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4821&ac=0&Itemid=2

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  3. Pu Buonglienkung na pamai ngei maw. Na laphuakteng ka lunglai ah zodawn huikhi laang hieu hieu te bang in a gin jaja ing e.

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  4. Comes November 3, 2008. I was busy like a bee designing my ZOLENGTHE Souvenir. The clock struck 12 o'clock. I moved towards my bed. While I was about to sleep my Mobile received a message. When I look at it, I was so shock and was wordless. It was SinlengNews about Pu Buonglienkung who passed away so soon. As soon as I read the whole message I published it in ZOlengthe. But I can't sleep anymore, I kept awake the whole night, not out of scare but out of the emptiness and the voice he left behind. May His Soul Rest in Peace.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Pu Buonglienkung September 10,1970 in Muolvaiphei ah piang a, kum 14 ahih apan Tuailai lapawl ah tel a,kum 1987 in Tonic Solfa Junior Certificate ngah a, kum 2000 in Matriculate(Tonic Solfa0 zou hi.January 1984 in piangthak a,huainung kum 10 sung lel in ICI Central Choir leader hi tou den hi.
    Insung haksa tak apan ahih man in, meihawl haal a zuak in nekzawng a, ahita halin, hun a neih bang zel in Pathian nna sem a, Pathian houpihna laa tampi mahmah phuak a, tua te lak ah-'Lal Isu Ka Nei Tah, Suk ringuma kalo um hi ka ta ding in malsawmna anih' chih te bang 'I gam Kristian hinkhua awl a ka ngaihsut chiang in' chih te bang zong ahi.Pathian in a itte a Amah kiang a om din a sam pahpah chih bang deuh in, kum 38 lel hipan in, hiai leitung a chimtak mahmah nusia in a 'LONG KHAWLMUN' a hon tun san ta.

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  6. My comments are short:
    Buonglienkung died young. His life should be measured in how many lives he touched. For, his songs will live on and on.

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  7. Pu Buonglienkung's demise is a great loss. I send my deepest condolence to the berieved family.

    May His soul rest in peace...!!!

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  8. Pu Buonglienkung laphuah te eipau bang ah le tamtak ki let khia a. Ka theih khak sun2 te hoih kasa thei mahmah hi. ICI central choir te vdo ka en kha a, etmai in leng Pathian phatna la asak chiang a aki piak zoh dan kimu thei mai hi, 'hing' law mahmah ngut. Mihing lama et in pammaih kasa a, Pathian a din kum tam pi zang lai leh ka chi, ahihziak in Pathian in Amah kiang a khawl tawl dam dia deih ta ahi ngei ding.

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  9. 6. Written by Rev.G.Kamzamuan, on 04-11-2008 15:58 , IP: 80.242.229.166
    Mihing lam et in poilua himai, heutupa honbeisana ah thuaknak huailua,amah lam i et chiang in a hampha. Kuan aban sunzom thei ding???? Pathian mizat laa hingtak phuak khethei ding Pathian ngen ni.A it huaidan kam a genzoh ding ahi kei.

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  10. 10. Written by Lyan Thomte, on 04-11-2008 21:28 , IP: 83.93.23.241
    Too young to die
    For someone too young to inspire
    A huge part of me goes with you
    I asked what can we do without you

    But I am sure your words will live
    And so will many of our lives

    In ways no one does
    In ways no one knows

    Knowing you were once amongst us
    We are but happy that you were one of us
    Your rewards awaits you in heaven
    And that glory we'd all share with you even

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  11. The songs and tuned words that you left for us will surely inspire and lead us in the days to come. Though we need and love you. God loves you more than us and needs you now. May your soul rest in peace.

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