Blues for Machang Lalung

Picture: http://www.instablogs.com/machang-lalung/

 

Here is an excerpt from an article written By Parwini Zora on Machang Lalung



"Machang Lalung, aged 77, was released from incarceration last month in the northeast Indian state of Assam after spending more than half a century behind bars awaiting trial.
Lalung had been arrested at his home village of Silsang in 1951 under section 326 of the Indian Penal Code for “causing grievous harm.” According to civil rights groups who have investigated Lalung’s case, there was no substantive evidence to support the charge against him. In any event, those found guilty of this offence typically receive sentences of no more than 10 years’ imprisonment.
Less than a year after he was taken into custody, Lalung was transferred to a psychiatric hospital in the Assamese town of Tezpur. Sixteen years later, in 1967, doctors confirmed that he was “fully fit” to be released, but instead he was transferred to Guwahati Central Jail, where he was imprisoned until this summer."

for full article read here http://www.countercurrents.org/hr-zora260805.htm
Below is a song called "Blues for Machang Lalung"  performed by Imphal Talkies in JNU campus on 15th November.

Blues for Machang Lalung

A

This is a story of guy called Machang Lalung

A

who spent fiftyfour years in prison.

D

He was released in 2006

D

with one indian ruppee as token bond.

A

He went to his village to find no one to recognise him

He remembered his stories like folktales

Chorus:

G D

So he went back to the Jailer

G D

and said Keep me back Keep me back

A G D

inside your prison

G D

So he went back to the jailer

G D

and said Lock me up lock me up

A G

inside your prison.

Lead Solo at A chord

A

All i had was the four walls of your prison

All i spoke was silence to the walls

D

I got no reason to live outside your prison

A

O Mighty Brahmaputra River swallow me

Chorus:

So he went back to the Jailer

and said Keep me back Keep me back

inside your prison

So he went back to the jailer

and said Lock me up lock me up

inside your prison.

Lead solo at A

A

O this land with Mighty River

This land with thick forest

has made me shiver for fifty four years

in prison

and it wants me to walk free

when i am withered and dying...

O they woke me up when i am dead

 *******************************************
And listen it to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib9gtenLvpg