IMPHAL, March 15: Along with the observation of the83rd birth anniversary of the Manipur Dramatic Union (MDU), and the inauguration of 3rd all Manipur folk drama festival, 2013, a felicitation of Ratan Thiyam, Eminent Theatre Personality and Director of Chorus Repertory Theatre was held at the Union’s auditorium today.
Speaking at the occasion Ratan Thiyam, Recipient of National Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellow, 2012 said his first play was enacted at the stage of MDU. “Lila is like the detergent powder of the society. It is the means to cleanse socio-economic, political and religious dirt of the society. Kala (art) is the way to eradicate wrong systems and produce the aesthetic beauty and truth of the society,” he said.
He then lamented that there is not even a small policy of culture in the state till date. “Encouragement and support of artists is very much required as if they do not survive then art would not exist. The authority concerned should have recognized the importance of art and culture.
Ministers and MLAs do speak so often about art and culture in functions though converting their words into action has never been seen,” he maintained.
Speaking on the occasion, I Hemochandra Singh, Minister PHED said art, culture and theatre adds flavor to the soul. “It is such a different experience and soul recharging to watch Ratan Thiyam’s plays. There will be none other than him who can represent our culture in the field of theatre,” he said.
The occasion was attended by Laishram Birendrakumar Singh, Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee; and Kshetrimayum Ibohal Singh, President MDU as guest of honour and president respectively.