IMPHAL, February 13: By materialising a State Cultural Policy and considering the proposed Cultural University, the State is marching ahead from the rest of the country in cultural promotion. Even though there is no national cultural policy to be seen as of now.
This was stated by K Radhakumar, secretary, Art & Culture, government of Manipur delivering his presidential speech in the two-day Guru Amubi National Classical Solo Dance Festival 2015 being held at the auditorium of Manipur Jagoi Marup, Lamboikhongnangkhong Imphal here today.
While emphasising that the uniqueness of Manipuri classical dance has its primacy in devotion of the performer in the Bhakti philosophy, Radhakumar said however, there is need for articulating its aspects into English or Hindi so that more people can understand it.
“People from south Asian countries would soon come here to study our classical dances in the future therefore we have to be ready”, he said.
The Secretary of Art & Culture also highlighted that with the opening of the Cultural University in the State there will be more opportunity for scholars and artistes to serve as faculty members. This step has been taken up in view of the Act East Policy becoming a reality in the coming days, he added.
H Tombi Singh, Vice Chairman of Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy speaking as a chief guest in the inaugural function maintained that Manipuri classical dance is an offshoot of the art forms of Manipur which have been there much before the ‘Natya Sastra’ was written in India. “Though I have been in academics for more than 40 years, I have a sentimental attachment with Manipur Jagoi Marup and dance”, he said.
The Director of JNMD Academy, L Upendro Sharma speaking as a guest of honour said that there is an urgent need for lecture cum demonstration programmes to be conducted regularly. He said in order to further maintain the legacy of Manipuri dance in the 21st century young artists and dancers have an important role to play.
During the inaugural session, JNMDA dancer N Amubisana Devi, was felicitated on her winning of the Sangeet Natak Akademy Award for the year 2016. Disciples of Guru Amubi, Devajani Chaliha, Th Surjamukhi Devi and RK Sabitrisana Devi were also honoured in the function. On the first day of the festival N Jinen, Sandip Mallick and Sangeeta Thokchom presented beautiful dance performances.