IMPHAL, October 18: Scholars from different institutes across the globe have been showing keen interest on my work. It`™s a profound feeling and any kind of award cannot replace it, said theatre doyen Heisnam Kanhailal.
Kanhailal was speaking at the website launch function of Kalakshetra Manipur, KKM theatre group here today at the JNMD Academy this evening. He said the website of KKM (www.kalakshetramanipur.org) has been long overdue. Our group has been trying to flaunt a website since 10 years back, but it did not materialised, he said.
`This was because I was laidback and did not pay much interest into it. But today we have been compelled to launch it. Friends and theatre lovers from different parts of the globe have demanded it. And we felt the need to move with the pace of time`, Kanhailal said.
He continued that today`™s artists more particularly of Manipur need to inculcate `artistic responsibility`™. It is beyond doubt that our artists have immense skills. But artists are inclined to be contented with the accolades they earned. They must move beyond that, he said.
Kanhailal emphasised that artists also need state patronage to reach certain height. He maintained that Kerala is a good example as far as artistic and cultural environment is concern. The growth and vibrancy of Kerala in any performing art is because the gurus and the scholars work together, he added.
He also noted that the state of Manipur can take the responsibility imparting theatre lessons to other south Asian countries with the coming of the Act East Policy. `Some of these countries have fertile ground for theatre. We at KKM are ready to take that responsibility`, said Kanhailal, while sharing the group`™s experience of touring Asian countries.
K Radhakumar, Secretary, Art & Culture, Govt of Manipur, who was the chief guest of the function in his speech, said that it is never too late to launch a website. He said the government is hopeful of going ahead with new ventures in the field of culture. A state Cultural Policy as well as a Film Policy is on the pipeline, he said.
On a critical note, Radhakumar highlighted that artistes are often carried away by egoism. `It seems that we have not learned to work jointly in a constructive way. Most of the discussions on important matters that we have had often got derailed inconclusively`, he pointed out.
The function was presided by L Upendra Sharma, Director, JNMDA. Many well-known theatre workers and scholars were also present in the gathering. The website was formally launched by the chief guest.