THE PRINCESS AND THE POLITICAL AGENT (TRANSLATED FROM THE MANIPURI BY L. SOMI ROY)

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BOOK NAME: THE PRINCESS AND THE POLITICAL AGENT

AUTHOR NAME: BINODINI (TRANSLATED FROM THE MANIPURI BY L. SOMI ROY)

GENRE: HISTORICAL FICTION

PUBLISHER: PENGUIN INDIA





BOOK REVIEW

This book took me two long months to read and that should give you an idea of how intense it was. Not that it was bad by any means, but it was definitely demanding and, at times, quite arduous. 


The story is primarily biographical and partly historical centred around the author’s aunt who was a remarkable and inspiring figure of her time. Sanatombi, the fierce and charismatic princess born to Maharaja Surchandra is at the heart of the narrative. The book begins during the Burmese occupation of Manipur and follows the struggles of the Manipuri kings as they fight to reclaim and maintain their thrones. It also delves into the events of the Anglo-Manipuri War and the internal turmoil among Sanatombi’s uncles for the right to the throne. Sanatombi initially bends to the laws of her land just like any other princess. But later things turn haywire when she falls for the political agent, Maxwell, and becomes his consort. The story ends with how their relationship becomes a reminder of their love for the ages to come.


What I truly loved about the book was the intimate insight into the royal life, told from a first-hand perspective, as the author herself belongs to the royal family. The depiction of cultural practices, traditional values and their personal stories was both awe-inspiring and enlightening. Though some revelations were admittedly shocking, they played a crucial role in deepening my understanding of Manipur’s rich and complex heritage. The only regret I had was reading the timeline before the story because it gave away all major spoilers that should have been avoided. But if you choose to read this book, I highly recommend going through the timeline after you finish the story, to relive the narrative with a clearer grasp of its depth.


The only challenge I faced was the casual tone and the frequent shifts between time periods without clear transitions. It often took me a while to figure out if it was the present or the past and that disrupted the flow slightly. That said, this book remains a beautiful and powerful rendition of Manipur’s royal history, its kings, its women, its culture, and its soul.


This is a part of BlogchatterA2Z2026 challenge

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