IMPHAL, February 28: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi said on Sunday that the All India Radio, Imphal Station has become an important library for preserving various important State treasures like ritual songs, art, culture and traditions of State from its establishment since 1963.
He was speaking at the release function of the golden jubilee souvenir of Akashvani Imphal and rare music collection of the ritual songs of the Chakpas of Manipur at Hotel Imphal Classic.
The Chief Minister expressed happiness for preserving this rare collection of ritual songs and music of Chakpas. He said he will await the AIR to broadcast these to the public as we as preserve them for our future generations.
Ibobi said the Chakpas are Meiteis’ who still practice the ancient Meitei traditions and religions. He pointed that Andro, Phayeng, Khurkhul, Awang Sekmai, Thongjao, Koukra etc are Chakpas of Manipur.
All India radio, Imphal as a public service broadcaster has been playing an important role in preserving the art, culture and tradition of Manipur since, its inception. The station also takes initiatives for building national and state integrity, he said.
Ibobi said that AIR Imphal has also digitized all its old art and culture recordings.
He said the radio, because of its wider reach, effectiveness in reaching to the targeted audience and for being handy and portable, besides being easily accessible and cheap, has advantages over the other mass media in dissemination information, education and the entertainment to the public.
The chief minister said that AIR, Imphal is in consonance with its social responsibility and expressed confidence it will continue to serve with varied programmes designed to awaken, inform, enlighten, educate, entertain and enrich all sections of the masses. Only this will take it a long way in bringing a progressive society for a better Manipur, he said.
He sought more progressive suggestions and criticisms from AIR, Imphal and appealed for more focus on development projects taken up the Government.
The Chakpas song and dance were performed by Andro artists in the programme.
Noted film director Aribam Shyam Sharma, Professor Ibohal Kangjam and AIR, Imphal officers and staffs were also participated in the programme.