Governor Anusuiya Uikey Attends Manipur Art Academy Prize Distribution Ceremony as Chief Guest

GG News Bureau

Imphal, 16th March. The annual prize distribution ceremony of Manipur Art Academy for the year 2021 was organized in Imphal on Wednesday. Governor Anusuiya Uikey attended the program as the chief guest and distributed the prizes.

Basant Kumar Singh, Education Minister, Manipur; M. Jai Singh, Commissioner, Art and Culture, Manipur; Kishore Jeet Singh, Secretary, Manipur State Art Academy and Babi Bykhom, Secretary Raj Bhavan also attended the event.

In her address, the Governor said that Manipur State Academy of Arts, since its inception, has been making continuous efforts to promote, disseminate and preserve the rich cultural tradition of Manipur within and outside the state. Every year the Academy is honoring scholars and artists in the fields of Music, Dance, Drama and Original Dramatic Tradition of Shumang Leela, Tribal Culture, Art, Fine Art, and Literature by conferring fellowships and awards, which is a commendable work.

It was established by the Government of Manipur in 1972 as its cultural agency. To fulfill the objectives of the government, the Academy is working for the preservation and promotion of art and culture.

With the changes taking place in the field of culture in India, the Academy has been able to accelerate its activities and influence many creative and multi-faceted aspects of Manipuri culture. The Academy has run programs and projects in various fields by organizing festivals, workshops, seminars, symposia, exhibitions, cultural exchange programmes.

The Academy also deals with Documentation, Publication, Acquisition of Books, Material for Library, Cultural Archive and Museum and brings out Publications and Journals in both English and Manipuri languages.

The Academy has established four Memorial Lectures in memory of four reputed personalities of Manipur who have excelled in Manipuri culture, these are:

(1) Rajarshi Bhagyachandra Memorial Lecture, for Dance and Music

(2) H. N. Gangal Singh Memorial Lecture for Literature

(3) S Lalit Singh Memorial for Lecture Theater

(4) Shri Bhadra Singh Memorial Lecture for Fine Art

These memorial lectures have interacted with scholars, writers, and artists in India and abroad, presenting Manipuri culture through dialogue. Lifetime Achievement Award is also given by the Academy for long lasting and outstanding contribution in the field of Manipuri culture.

Now the Academy has also started a new award, “Academy Youth Talent Award” which is given for dance, music, theatre, thang-ta, tribal culture.

The Academy is deeply concerned about the extinction of some of the rare art forms of Manipur. When the artists of these arts grow old and die, then that art ends. In such a situation, young talents will have to learn these arts and nurture them. The Academy is the only agency that can handle this responsibility.

The Academy Awards for the year 2021 are being presented in this award ceremony, which includes one Lifetime Achievement and two Fellows for outstanding contribution in their respective fields of Dance, Music, Theatre, Shumang Leela, Thang-Ta, and other forms. Awards have been given to the award winners.

The Governor said, “the efforts of the Academy will promote and preserve the rare and distinct cultural heritage of Manipur and encourage the efforts of scholars and artists. Such efforts of the Academy are commendable.

“I am confident that the contribution made by the Academy will help in the preservation, promotion and dissemination of the rich cultural tradition of the State of Manipur and also encourage scholars and artists”, she added.