Subaltern Experience and the Poetics of the Ordinary: An Analysis of L. Samarendra Singh's Poetry

Abstract This paper explores the landscape of modern Manipuri poetry in English translation, specifically focusing on the works of L. Samarendra Singh. The analysis centers on the representation of subaltern experience through what is termed as “poetics of the ordinary life.” By employing a methodology of close reading and detailed literary analysis, the study moves beyond traditional sociological readings to examine the aesthetic mechanics of Singh’s verse. The core argument posits that Singh’s poetry utilizes a distinct anti-lyrical tone, pervasive irony, and a cast of symbolic, everyday figures to expose the invisible structures of power that shape the lives of the marginalized. Rather than relying on grand political gestures, Singh finds profound meaning in the mundane such as the lives of clerks, students, and even domestic animals revealing how subalternity is lived in the “small” moments of existence. Ultimately, this paper contributes to the field of modern Indian poetry by emphasizing the literary sophistication of Singh’s work and demonstrating how regional poetry resists grand narratives by elevating the ordinary to a site of significant socio-political critique. Keywords: Subaltern experience, Ordinary life, Manipuri poetry, Irony, Literary analysis, Modern Indian poetry