IMPHAL, December 6: Inaugurating the Imphal Literature Festival 2014 this afternoon at JND Academy Imphal, Gaikhangam, deputy Chief Minister of Manipur, stated that literature is the benchmark of progress for every society. It is crucial to focus attention on this realm since it has the potential to unite or disintegrate a society, he said.
He continued that such regenerative processes in society also manifest in songs, dialogues and dramas, to shape our collective perspective.
The three-day festival is organised by Sahitya Thoupang Lup Imphal in collaboration with JN Manipur Dance Academy and supported by Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
During the inaugural function, Dr K Ibungohal, a Manipuri writer from Assam was honoured with Thiyam Ibochoubi National Award. Expressing his happiness on getting the award, he said, `We continue to be conscious custodians of Manipuri authentic culture. We speak and write with intimate attachment to our literary traditions though our accessibility to home news which is limited to DD1 and ISTV`.
The festival has poets from outside the country like Philip Nikolayev from USA, Swapan Kumar Nath and Sheram Niranjan from Bangladesh, and besides renowned Indian poet like Satchidanandan.
Speaking to IFP, on the sidelines of the function, Philip said that he has been blown away by the sheer beauty of the place and the cultural display.
`I have begun to absorb and feel the local vibes. It`™s an enchanting special experience. People do have legitimate grievances but art is selfless and conveys human kindness and love`, he added.
Further he stated that ultimately reasoning have an effect on people when people soften and become more sensitive to the beauty of life thus nourishing interpersonal connections.
`Art works against violence and the ideas of war and instead have been a form of coping with violence and dealing with it. For some people it can be a healing experience`, he said.
Interestingly Philip speaks both Hindi and Urdu besides writing in English and Russian and has a forthcoming book with the Poetry Wala of Mumbai.
Radhakumar Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Imphal West, speaking on the occasion defines poetry as participation where the loud audibility and pronouncement of words enhances the intensity of it unlike prose.
Chairman, organising committee, Ningthoujam Nabachandra acknowledged that the number of poets and writers have increased in leaps and bounds, however quality remains a challenge. He recalled the quality contribution of our State in the realm of literature citing the work of Dr Kamal`™s `Madhabi`™. He said there is a need for renaissance in writing.
Later in the function, Mangka of Laihui enthralled the gathering of the festival with Manipuri folk songs.
Several books and calendar were launched on the occasion namely Th Rashini`™s `Lemhouraba Louhon` and N. Kunjamohan`™s `Chenkhidraba Echel` `Ningshingli Houkhraba Matamdo` and `Chinglon Kaya Lanna` etc.