IMPHAL, February 17: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, terming Maharaja Priyabarta Singh as one of the founders of modern Manipur has said that his multifaceted personality had contributed towards various aspects of life for the development of the State.
The Chief Minister was speaking during the 104th Birth Anniversary observation of (L) Maharaja Priyabarta Singh at the Lamyanba Shanglen today organised by the Manipur Cultural Integration Conference.
Marking the anniversary a memorial lecture on the life of the late leader was also delivered.
He continued that MK PB Singh also contributed in the political world substantially. Many of us are aware of his yeoman work to bring emotional integrity of the State, a mission to which he devoted his life by visiting various hill areas of the State and interacting with the people there from the 1970s onward.
He foresaw the misunderstanding which was building up and strove to resolve the differences by interacting not only with the leaders but with common people too. Unfortunately today, except for those steeped in the world of fine art, and are still nostalgic about the grand old man`™s own works, very few still recall his tremendous contributions in other fields, he added.
After learning fine arts from Rajkumar College, Raipur he brought a fresh style of painting in Manipur, he said and added that the younger artists need to study and analyse the styles of MK PB Singh and other senior artists of Manipur to understand the art movement in the State.
The initiative of MK PB Singh to start industries relevant to Manipur could not fructify as the system then was not conducive, but it confirms his belief that without education and industries the State cannot go forward.
His association with the Manipur Cultural Integration Conference in his later life was an inspiring. He made us realize mutual emotional distancing of the various communities of the state.
The Chief Minister said MK PB Singh foresaw it and worked tirelessly towards bringing a better understanding amongst the communities.
He is somebody who believed that we have to share both our difficulties and happy moments for which he toured the hill areas extensively and brought to the notice of those in power the needs of the regions, Ibobi said.
As his effort was without any thought for personal gains, the common men responded to his overtures with enthusiasm and honesty.
An unfortunate accident he met in later life curtailed his movements, but despite his physical pains he continued to paint and write, and showed the moral courage he had, making him a household name in Manipur.