Kekru

Kekru At Kekru, we believe in the potency of reading and sharing.We host open mic sessions and publish chap books!

07/06/2026

'Karkhana'
a poem by Hijam Irabot

Atiya meikhu machu sangle
Nungsasu meikhu machu sangkhre
Thongda meikhu chuba mina
Musuk musuk bhoot pretkumna
Changthok changsin touri
Makhoi loina mounini.
Makhoigi meikhu chuba thabaki humdang masing utli mathang mathang.
Lukham paklaba mita
Yalli segaiba meikhu chuba pa
Mapukna yang tap napkhre
Khujeina tora maoira.
Makhoigi punsida leikang chure
Angouba kouba machet ama paktre
Loklei sangi garina
Pareng thari thongjinda
Khudei khongdai phijet oiba
Awaoba mee kangbu ama
Thari kokthong kokthong
Makhoigi makoktagi mathang mathang
Makhon phaire chadabana
Pothaba oire phamdumna
Makhoigi punsi waore
Angouba machet amata paktre
Meikhu churaba makokni
Uphunna waoraba punsi
Punsi lakha lakhagi marakta
Ngourok ngouba punsi ama
Ariba duniyagi murtida
Karamba kanda ningnakhraba
Kanagi mangda mangkhraba
Mee lakha lakhagi apunba
Anouba duniyagi murti ama
Apunba gi oiba karkhana meikhu chuba awaobagi leibakta.

Visual direction/Editing by Recin Nongmaithem

29/05/2026

Shak khangnaba

Thangaching mami achouba uchekna
Torbungi namiba nungsit eroinana
Loktakki epom mathang mathang landuna
Sannei phalladuna nomma nomaduna.
Thangjing chingdondagi numitpu kouwi
Numitna hayeng hayeng hairaga leithakhi.

Ningthounai koiyet angangba ama
Khullak paojelli laora laoraduna
"Hayengi numita Loktak tapharoi
Taramba midudi Rajdhandi phangani"
Nungaitana numit mayum changkhre
Thangachingsu chapleptuna munna tare.
Masam mana ipha phana sandhya chellakle
Mamangthong hanglare Khambada paotammare.
Machem khamnu lairabina paomelli
Ichemgi Khamba yum sanglammu hayengdi.
Khambana chathokloi iche khummi
Sandhyana lonna yenakha paodai.

Nitigi lambi kaidana numit laki
Chatloi, lengloi, yengloi maningi
Pukning sagolnadi khumang lamlakle
Khamba hougatle sagaidagi nou lamle
Thokhre Loktak tamna kumkhre
Thainagi waklen hee chingkhatlure.

Khambagi heena mamit kuppa leitana
Kanabuno yengli amuk amuk kangkhatuna
Nouna watli chatkho chatkho thourakli
Loktakna mipairaduna nikli
Dhandi phanglabasu amatadi natre
Numitsu Khambagi matung innakhre.

Ikai hangoibana koijanba
Khudop punbana taisinduna
Loktak premgi luraba laijada
Thoibi gi thariba nungsi inda
Lakhre pamu lemlei amudon Khamba.
Thangaching mami cheklasu sanakhre numitka.

Hijam Irabot

Visual direction/Editing by Recin Nongmaithem

22/05/2026

Tangkhul Hui

Anouba lambi semba laki
Nungjao nungjao heitharaki
Concrete kilo kilo peirei
Thotna satpi kombirei ama
Nungjao mayamna nansinkhi.
Lambi sembana hanna phaoba yengkhide
Roller laklaga mathaktadum takhi.
Thaorek karaba driver na
Motlaba maya uttuna
Ashiba minokta
Khakna khakna nokhi
Manakta kunlamba
Tangkhul huijao amana
Houna houna tengthakhi
Thamoi sokna.

ShriBiren

Nongthombam ShriBiren (1942–2011), popularly known as ShriBiren, was a pioneering Manipuri poet, playwright, and short story writer who played a vital role in redefining modern Manipuri literature. Emerging as a powerful voice in the 1970s, he earned the epithet “angry young man” for his bold, confrontational writing style. His works challenged entrenched socio-political structures while delving deeply into existential concerns such as identity crisis, alienation, and moral decay. Through his sharp, introspective, and often provocative literary expression, ShriBiren left a lasting impact on the evolution of contemporary Manipuri literature.

Visual direction/Editing by Recin Nongmaithem

20/05/2026

Hijam Irabot (30 September 1896 – 1951), fondly remembered as Jananeta (“Leader of the People”), was a pioneering freedom fighter, social reformer, politician, poet, and cultural icon from Manipur. Widely regarded as the architect of modern Manipur, he dedicated his life to the upliftment of peasants, workers, and marginalized communities through political activism, social reform, and literary expression. Irabot played a crucial role in shaping democratic and progressive movements in Manipur, while also contributing significantly to Manipuri literature, music, and theatre. His enduring legacy continues to inspire generations across Northeast India.

"Makhoisini"

Chinglemba ching khetna chatpa
Leingang lambi manakta mi khara
Nung thugairi 'kek' 'kek' - nungthangna
Kalen nungsa kak thokpada.
Manakta mapuk thanba motor lorry
Dhamka touduna chenkhi mari mari.
Laptak engine ama santri touri.
Mi kharasu yenglamlaga chatkhi.
Makhoigi huinasu haiphet yenglami.

Ha ha karaba kwak kharana
Nungsa yakhallamlaga paikhi.
Ayukki numit ama ubadagi
Taramdaigi ama uba phaoba
Makhoigi nungthang makhol leptri,
Atiyagi angangbana waorakpada
Makhutna laibaktagi humang teithokani.

Oida sajei, yetta Langol
Arr T**i thouri makhoina san.
Yotki khongna yotchinda hapu kaori
Mitna yotlam munna munna yengli
Yenda kwakna kokthakta tubat pai.
Amambana hanna yenglaga hankhi.
Nungsitna matung koin illi
Numitna chagadabagum yenglaki
Numitna koktondagi yengtharakpada
Sansingna kamduna napi thatkani.
Nungsana amuk erujagani
Nongda amuk humang ngangani
Timpha kakpheina yawonagani
Tumit kangna sagonnagani
Numitna hanna yenglamlaga hankhibada
Makhong tingthokani mangonda
Mapuk sitpatana saruk oiba
Segaiba phitana phithung oiba
Makhoisini.

Hijam Irabot

Visual direction/Editing by Recin Nongmaithem

18/05/2026

Ahing

Ahing asi chongkhatli chingthakta
Mathang mathang chingdumdagi chingdum da.
Langol dagi chongkhi Nongmaijing da
Mangjong chatpagi machongum.
Khanghoudana chongkhi Koubru tamna
Yengkhibadana ui Laimatonda.
Ngaihak phan phan chonglamlaga
Hunkhi Laimaton gi namlonda.
Mahabali gi sekpi paithoraki
Masadagi amamba makup khiktharami.
Khongnangbotsu muna sukhallami
Ningthem Pukhrisu amuba sanglami.
Makhoina chiknaba tai pungdonda
Muntrik munba pungdon munnabada.
Yengbada ahingi masa achoubana
Pungkup kuplamme atiya apumba.
Paraba masa khaplammi paigadabagi
Jagat Munitadi phamduna dhyan tourami.

Hijam Irabot

Visual direction/Editing by Recin Nongmaithem

16/05/2026

Asinine

Asinine prok prok prok chaklamiba
Mi hatle, mi chare hainaramiba
Chai chapham khangda
Tummi tumpham khangda
Mi pumnamak ngaona sawongum khanglamiba.
Kona humai phana hummi chatnade
Chandan phana phana chai kanade
Ngaihaktang inglammi
Chakpana mahellaki
Mi pumnamak sire sire hainaramiba.
Kal chakragi khongleina thunglakpa
Wayel katina lakpada
Mawong ama toukhre
Mathanta hantharakle.
Thoujal heikhraba kari toudabagum leire.
Asinine.

Hijam Irabot

Visual direction/Editing by Recin Nongmaithem

15/05/2026

December 12

Ngasi ahing lelle
Numit ama chatkhre
Sam punsillu Devi
Ipha pharibado.
December' 12 ama houkhre
December' 12 ama lakle
Kaorabra?
Thajabra sam pungani haiba?
Ningbra numit asi lakani haiba?

Hijam Irabot

Visual direction/Editing by Recin Nongmaithem

14/05/2026

Telegraph

Piklaba chekla ama
Mihutta paisillaktuna
Tonglari table mathakta
Pumngang ngangle eena
Sikari gulina pallabra?
Langdagi nanthorakpara?
Sintharakpa pi matumna
Tari atatpa leitana.
Luhongbagi bor keinya
Khoirum momon touna
Nungsi ipakta taori
Nungaiba ahing lelli.
Eena loukhong chenba
Misana leikhom thokpa
Lanjao kaya thengnari.
Angam ngamda lepnari.
Sangsar leikolnungda
Ningthiba mapa leitana
Ngarang satlamba leirang
Phajana pallamba heirang
Atiyada tinkhi
Kaya ama pomlakli
Keidano mabu udaba
Kanano cheklasibu thengnadaba?

Hijam Irabot

Hijam Irabot (30 September 1896 –1951), fondly remembered as Jananeta (“Leader of the People”), was a pioneering freedom fighter, social reformer, politician, poet, and cultural icon from Manipur. Widely regarded as the architect of modern Manipur, he dedicated his life to the upliftment of peasants, workers, and marginalized communities through political activism, social reform, and literary expression. Irabot played a crucial role in shaping democratic and progressive movements in Manipur, while also contributing significantly to Manipuri literature, music, and theatre. His enduring legacy continues to inspire generations across Northeast India.
Visual direction/Editing by Recin Nongmaithem

13/05/2026

Hijam Irabot (30 September 1896 –1951), fondly remembered as Jananeta (“Leader of the People”), was a pioneering freedom fighter, social reformer, politician, poet, and cultural icon from Manipur. Widely regarded as the architect of modern Manipur, he dedicated his life to the upliftment of peasants, workers, and marginalized communities through political activism, social reform, and literary expression. Irabot played a crucial role in shaping democratic and progressive movements in Manipur, while also contributing significantly to Manipuri literature, music, and theatre. His enduring legacy continues to inspire generations across Northeast India.

"Dikhougi torbanda"

Dikhougi tuthupta
Wangmagi hidenda
Numitna irujaba ure.
Nongchup phige hongle
Chingya kori chelle
Mit choiningdre ningthire phajare.
Eegi ee ngakta chelle
Thak thak nikle
Ngasisu koktribara - adungeigi?
Dikhougi ningsing ichenda
Taothari mang ama
Ngasidi khalli taibangni.
Lin tongba phiranna
Haina humna atiyada
Pairammi torban asida.
Meitei Ningthou yaiphaba
Chingthangkhomba akanba
Mayek lana eri thabakta.
Phousu ishei sakli
Aadagi chingdon asidani
'Moraal' - Dikhou torbanda.
Meitei thamoi binada
Palli pancham surda
Manipur Sana leibakta.

Hijam Irabot

Visual direction/Editing by Recin Nongmaithem

11/05/2026

Mikha Pollaba Ningthourel

Meira katpidraba Mandir gi mangda
Huduna puraklaba muktasing masing thingamdana
Chaithoktuna sanariba Ningthourel singna
Lotuna thamli
Hira kaya kaya phijang marumda.

Tharum touna aronba kanagi saktam louduna
Nongumlakpada mahakna
Leinam chelli
Apomba leirang kaya kaya...
Chamla mityengna waningai oiraklaba
Chingnaningai leitraba langtaknaba
Chingthokhrabani thamoi thambal.

Thamoi!
Marol thoktraba nungsi yakaibada
Leihi chendraba leirangum laija kangla pukhrini.
Masa pandraba cheklagum yatariba
Sagonnaduna
Maning khomba kumgi nongna humduna
Onthokhraba maithongbu puduna chatkhrabada
Leire mangalna sathoubagi makha ponna.

Waikhom Jugeshor

Visual direction/Editing by Recin Nongmaithem

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Singjamei
Imphal
795001

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