We have seen a sudden awakening of interest from the present ministry on film artist and technicians. There were reports of jobs offer to artist who have succeeded in making a mark at the national and international level. One cannot afford to miss names like Leikhendra of Imagi Ningthem, Kiranmala of Ishanou and Tonthoi of Phijegee Mani. They competed with their counterpart of other states and brought laurels. We heard the department of art and culture is busy contemplating over the kind of job to be given to them and other artists. This is appreciable indeed.We have also often heard from the speeches of the Chief Ministers and his band of brothers. That sports and culture are the two core components that exemplify Manipur, which is a statement that does not require any validation. The attention of the government is evident from the round of tours they have made to places of cultural and historical importance in these recent days. The Chief Minister made it a point to include some of our cultural luminaries in his entourage. A long awaited effort which is never too late. To put things into right frame, a policy is what that is called for. The then minister of culture Dr. M. Nara had proposed for a cultural policy during his tenure, in the year 2002. A decade has gone since then. Cultural policies encompass a wide spectrum of activities. Visual arts such as film, painting, sculpture, pottery and architecture; performing arts such as dance, music and theatre, Manipur does not lack vibrant practitioner in this fields. A proper policy in place will help in our aesthetic enlightenment. The policy must articulate its purpose in the ways that the public interest is served. There are numbers of cultural organisations in Manipur which are not only resource starved, but are also disoriented because of so many factors. There is critical absence of cultural democracy or democratisation of culture. Self-proclaimed cultural activist serves dictates and threats. Another group will valorize explaining the so called nuances of an art. The fact is there are too many players in our cultural landscape. This has hijacked the organic growth of our culture, or any art form for that matter. At this backdrop, we heartily welcome the announcement of the government that a state cultural policy will be framed. Should we remind that it should not confine not only in giving incentives or jobs to the artist alone. The policy should be drawn on a wider canvas. It should primarily include a robust budgetary allocation. Critical enquiry and research should be encouraged to define and redefine our cultural road map. A pluralistic approach that emphasises artistic merit to a certain degree of richness, sophistication and excellence particularly for the humanity to flourish is asked for. A wider participation of public from all spheres of life should not be overlooked. In a lighter vein, we do not expect Tonthoi to be in a police uniform holding a gun or a stick. We look forward to see her with a proper job wherein her artistic growth is not arrested. This applies to all other artist and the art form they practice.
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