Cry Of An Artiste

Soibamcha Indrakumar *

Angaobise Eigidi Emani : performed at Maharaja Chandrakriti Auditorium on 22nd Jan 2014 as part of 3rd Khundongbam Brojendro Theatre Festival 2014 :: Pix - Ashok Ningthoujam

The Khundongbam Brojendro Cultural Trust, in collaboration with the Department of Arts and Culture, Government of Manipur, organized the 3rd Khundongbam Brojendro theatre Festival (18-28 Jan, 2014) successfully and colourfully. The just - concluded National theatre Event, 16th Bharat Rang Mahotsav- satellite festival (Chorus Shrine Playhouse, January 9-14, 2014) was belittled in terms of arrangement and government participation.

Yes, it will be remembered as a great theatre event of the year. Seven plays were staged during the Festival (Four plays in Manipuri Language and one each in Tangkhul, Kabui and English languages). The much awaited Myanmar play had a last minute withdrawal.

Notwithstanding the impressive performances of the seven well-made plays, another unforgettable imprint of the Festival was the impressive-45 minute performance of a few dying art forms of Manipur every day before the drama performances. The audio-visual recordings of the performances will be archival-documents.

My intention of writing this article is not to put forth a critical analysis of the plays presented. However, I have a frank submission to say that my best choice would be MOCK ASSEMBLY by Banian Theatre and ANGAOBISHI EIGIDI EMANI by Paradise Theatre. They succeeded to tickle the senses of the audience.

What prompted me to jot down these lines is not the stamp made on my mind by the plays, but an intrusive thought aroused by the festival. Never in the past, had the Department of Arts and Culture extended such an extensive helping hand in organizing Theatre Festival by any voluntary organization. Has the department adopted a new policy? Every body asked this inquisitive question. A friend of mine nodded, 'Don't be silly man, KBC Trust is something special, nobody should expect anything of that kind from the government, it has no policy….'

I consoled myself. My friend was right. We have seen umpteen number of theatre/drama festivals in the state, competitive and non-competitive, including those organized by the Manipur State Kala Akademi. Such kind of support and participation was never there. It may be that Maharaja Chandrakirti Auditorium was not in existence and there was no means of support other than financial assistance.

Now that the Maharaja Chandrakirti Auditorium coming into existence, the Department might have initiated a way of utilizing the auditorium for such kind of festivals. It is a well-known fact that the cultural activities of the state are not driven by the policy-directives of the government. Rather, they are at the whims of the able Ministers. No one can oppose his will.

No doubt, Khundongbam Brojendro was a great playwright. G.C. Tongbra was even greater. We had other equally great playwrights in Pukhrambam Shamu, Khundrakpam Brajachand, Haobam Tomba, Sarangthem Bormani, Arambam Samarendra, etc. whose contributions in Manipur Theater are priceless. There are half-a-dozen organizations in the state working to preserve and nurture their works. However, they cannot organize Memorial Festivals for want of fund and support. If a support system is created as a matter of policy, I hope, the theatrical activities will be kick-started once again.

Unfortunately, the Arts and Culture portfolio is under the direct supervision of our Chief Minister which is why a much wider gap has been created between the artistes and their guardians. One may also call us fortunate to have a Culture Minister who is the most powerful in the Cabinet. The artiste community is generally docile and emotional. Their minds are never polluted.

A corrupt mind never becomes a good artiste. The dancers, singers, actors, painters, authors, poets and sculptors will never know the art of greasing the hands of politicians and bureaucrats. So, the Arts and Culture Department never evolves into a Major Department. A mini-budget is earmarked for this Minor-Department in the State's annual budget.

The Manipur State Kala Akademi, the only composite Akademi of Sangeet Natak, Lalit and Sahitya Akademis in India, has to stand with a beggar's bowl at the doors of the Directorate. The Akademi is in a pathetic condition. It is fighting even to keep up its routine programmes. Do the Akademi have its won vision document? Pondering on these issues, one can easily guess that the government is planning to merge the Akademi with the Department of Arts and Cultures. For a few years now, the Manipur State Kala Akademi is heading its way for a slow death. We have to find a panacea and save the Akademi.

Department of Arts and Culture and the Manipur State Kala Akademi are two different entities having different objectives. The Department is the policy maker whereas the Akademi acts as the implementing agency. The functional line of demarcation should be clear. However, the state government has no such statutory provisions as a matter of policy.

The much talked about Cultural Policy of the state is yet to see light of the day. The ruling class has no concern for the oppressed class. Hence, never care to protect the interest of the cultural people. They are passing through a dark phase.

This never ending hours of the dark night will come to an end at last, we never loss hope, the dawn will arrive to see the light of the day.