An experience with Royal Theatrical Club's NUNGSHITHEL
- A Quest for Peace Indeed -

Rinku Khumukcham *

Generally, dishonesty among section of devil-invaded-minds often creates unrest and social tension in a nation. Minute mistakes committed knowingly or unknowingly have even lead to a massive destruction of a peaceful society. Though, everybody knows, nobody raised their voice to those people who designed and masterminded such an event. These often promulgate communal clashes among various ethnic communities and disturb the peaceful environment.

For Manipur which is the home of more than 33 and more different ethnic communities, the people are easily targeted by such people. Many had killed, many are maimed left as orphan, many have become homeless and many are turn as destitute women. These are the prize of the communal clashes, which was witness in the state during early 90s. Everyone had seen it, feel it, experiences it but nobody had lend hands for peaceful solution.

The present scenario has created apprehension to everybody's mind; the apprehension that someday the simmering anguishes between these communities which co-existed together since time immemorial might shattered away from this little land.

Perhaps, this is one result for The Royal Thetrical Club, of Keishamthong Elangbam Leikai to once more reproduced Arambam Somarendro's "NUNGSHITHEL" which literally means 'a tiny abode of love' under the direction of M. Akshaykumar.

Commenting on the play "Nungshithel", L. Joychandra Singh, former Director, Manipur State Kala Akademi once stated; the play Nungshithel gives a beautiful account of how communal harmony, peace and tranquility could be achieved through the binding of love and fellow feeling among various communities.

He also further stated that the playwright's attempt to solved some of the serious question like; why should hatred and ill feeling dominates our minds when there are chances of living together peacefully under a common social roof, sharing a common dream? Why should depletion, mistrust, evil thought rule blindly our minds, creating confusion, chaos, and violent attitude, when we know that there are alternating to go beyond these?

Arambam Somarendro's Nungshithel is not merely an abode which provides shelter to a family but a symbol, where the Hindus, the Muslims and the Christians could share a common fate under a common roof; this was categorically shown by the potential young artist of Royal Theatrical Club, Imphal under the keen guidance of director M. Akshayakumar.

The protagonist of the play Hanubi, an old lady caste by Linthoingambi, is a symbolic thread round whom the entire characters of the play have been bounded and link inseparably. Abdullah, a Muslim, caste by Elangbam Suresh; Tomba, a Hindu caste by Dinku; Khujaipu, and Gouzadou both Christians caste by Robindro and Gogo respectively, appeared in the play as individuals, having different background and belonging to different communities; yet they remain one and stand united when the occasion demands.

The old women plays a catalytic role in bringing the play to a logical conclusion, and the individuality of the characters have been merged into a solid whole at the end of the play, with her touching remark "My dear Children, what I desire is love ."

What made the play still alive is it's synonymous of the present situation of Manipur. Tension arisen out of mere misunderstanding between each community is still seen even today. For those fighting for an independent Manipur or for those administering under the mainstream governance or for those who are surviving as laymen the lesson taught by Nungshithel is a must.

The hatred feelings planted by the so called selfishness and lack of second thought is well stated and made known to the audience by the effective playwright. And rather it is also the wisdom of the director which produced the playwright's thought to performance in a very creative ways.

Abdulah, the character in the play caste by E. Suresh served as a comic character as well as a bridge that help in bonding the thread of relationship between each communities. It is indeed wonderful to imagine the creation of Abdulah's character by the director in such a way without affecting the script.

Abdullah's wife caste by Th. Shantikumaridevi was not less then the character played by E. Suresh. The dialogue between the husband and wife was very interesting. Accompanied by humorous dialect, she presented the symbol of the lay men who desires to live without any complaints.

Memjoline the kuki girl cast by Meenakumari was indeed excellent. She portrays the life of the innocent villagers who are victims of the communal clashed. On the other had including a Naga girl (cast by Asha) was very brilliant of the director in bringing up the play into a successful one.

Royal Theatrical Club was once heard to the public from its evergreen production "Film Shooting" when its young but brilliant director Ghanashyam Kshtri was alive. The inborn genius had done so much for this theatre organization that most the production viz; "Maikeebi Sita", "Ram Bonbas", "Election" and "Lilagee Ningthou" etc. were produced.

However, with the dead of this director its popularity was somewhat declined. But its name again began to strike back with a new avatar. An "avatar" borne with hopes to create a peaceful environment.

A Society without conflict might be a distant dream but with the effort of the Royal Theatrical Club's it is somewhat convinced that if we look back to ourselves and think twice about the products of all those thoughtless fighting way towards a peaceful society is not far away from us.

The effort would certainly gives a ray of hope for bringing a solution to the ever accelerating conflict of all societies in general and this trouble prone region called Manipur in particulars. The theatrical club's concerns to the conflict between communities arisen from the misunderstanding are shown to their production "Nungshithel".

The production tried to approach the neo- theatrical style. However, as the script already put some limitation to be bounded in some restricted circle it is sometime seen hard for the director to use some of his skillful creativity. But, still the approach is not bad.

Lastly, but not he least, it was the authenticity and strength of the script that give courage to the artist and director of this theatre organization.

Nungshithel was already performed by some other theatre groups in Manipur. Regarding this, an actor once said that, "When I was offered for the role I was not that interested at first, as it had been casted by someone else. However, when I read again and again and started realizing the beauty of the role as placed by the playwright, I never wanted to lose that opportunity by disappointing the team".