Imphal Times Supplementary issue 2 Editorial National News “Our tribute to Oja Sanakhya Imphal, Monday, April 18, 2016 Ebotombi” Opposition Congress strike Sanakhya Ebotombi Haorokcham - top Icon of Manipuri arts, culture and literature left for his heavenly abode in the spring morning of 13th April 2016. paralyses normal life in Sanakhya Ebotombi Haorokcham (5th September 1946-13th April 2016) was ST for social equality? aPlaywright, theatre/film director and writer born in Imphal,.He was ANI leakage of the Yusuf Commission a top Icon of Manipuri Kala (Arts),Sanskriti (Culture) and Sahitya (literature) What about our 2000 years of history? Agartala, April.18: A strike report to a local newspaper should as claimed by manyrenowned artist, intellectuals and fellow scholars. He was A stringent mechanism to protect the Indigenous Manipuri people organized by the opposition be probed. trained in theesteemed and prestigious institute of National School of Drama, including the Meitei/Meetei community is the need of the hour. Congress Party paralysed normal Sinha was murdered on March 31, Delhi in his early age. But while doing so it is not right to sabotage the history of this life in Left-ruled Tripura on 1998 in the Kamalpur subdivision He was the Founder and Director of “Avant Garde” theatre center in Imphal erstwhile nation in South for a mere gain in employment Monday. of the state’s Dhalai district. where he had trained many drama and theatre artist in Imphal and from other parts of .He was one of the theatre personality producing many actors quotas or whatsoever it may be. The logic is understand by each The strike call was given over a On Monday, most schools, markets, of us in the erstwhile nation and diverting the peoples’ mindset and actresses in the field of theatre,art and film industry. He wasa firm believer demand for a CBI probe into the shops and business establishments in working of his cultural roots and tried to imbibe the Manipuri traditions and in the name of social equality, development or for bringing peace murder of CPI-M Minister Bimal in Agartala remained closed. culture in many of his works. and harmony to recklessly pushing up a demand is a serious Sinha. Attendance in government and SanakhyaEbotombi wrote many articles,books on NataSankritan,short matter. It is more like twisting of tongue to fool the people by Sinha, who was the state’s health semi-government offices and banks stories,plays etc.and many other publicationsin relation to drama and theatre. inciting the attitude of jealousy towards getting some benefit. minister, was killed by the banned was thin, while roads were deserted. He was an exponent on NataSankritan (Sankirtana encompasses an array of Well it is once more about the demand for schedule tribe. No National Liberation Front of Tripura Vehicles, except those of security arts performed to mark religious occasions and various stages in the life of doubt if we meetei or Meitei become scheduled tribe we might (NLFT) militants while negotiating forces, remained off the roads. Manipuri Vaishnavites. It is practiced at the Centre of temples, where performers get lot of privileged in getting jobs in central service through with them for the release of his Tinku Datta, a passenger at the narrate the lives and deeds of Krishna through songs and dances). He alsoclaimed reservation quotas. And in the same way the underdeveloped brother. airport said, “So many people are “Lai Haroaba as the oldest theatre tradition of Manipur in one of his publications (Lai Haraoba, the oldest Theatre Tradition of Manipur, EZCC, 1988) communities which has been living together from time Since last month, the Congress has travelling from Agartala to Imphal, immemorial will no doubt loss all the opportunity of competing SanakhyaEbotombi mainly focused on raising and promoting many young been raising questions about how Aijawl, Guwahati, Calcutta, they are local talents for theatre and films and has numerous followers. He was one of with the general people in this region. The committee on their a report on the assassination of suffering. They (police) will give us the eight prominent members who represented the Indian contingent in Indian justification had once said that there will be reservations for Sinha was leaked into the public bus on any other vehicle.” Festival held in Moscow, Russia during the late 80’s. the various scheduled tribes of the state in case of benefit domain. The retired Calcutta High There were report of few stray To the surprise of many, he declined to accept the State Kala Academy and provided by the state government. A social thinker once asked Court Justice M.A. Yusuf incidents of picketers breaking other awards conferred on him.However, he did receive 2 awards Viz. me the logic behind it and said they had already contradicted Commission was appointed by the windshield of vehicles from various NatyaRatna awarded by Manipuri SahityaParisad in May 2007 and NetaIrabot their so call propaganda of uniting the hill and plain people the Left Front government in 1998 and parts but large number of police memorial award in September 2012 as he was persistently persuaded by many region if in case all the people become scheduled tribes. it submitted its report on January personnel’s were engaged in the of his young students and scholars. Now the Scheduled Tribe demand committee has again geared 31, 2000. The state government had roads and busy areas. He also has mentored and directed many Bollywood actors and actress in many of his plays in Manipuri style. Some of them are up their demand to include Meetei/Meitei in Scheduled Tribe kept the findings of the report under Superintendent of Police Abhijit category. Before once more putting up the argument on the DeepaSahi,AshutoshRana, Jaya Seal, Hrishikesh Joshi, RajpalYadav etc. lock and key till this year. Saptarshi said there were no Some of his works are listed below: veracity of why Meitei/meetei community should not be included Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar untoward incidents as strict Contributions: to scheduled, it is better that the so call committee make the has now said that the alleged preventive measures were in place. · Acted and Directed plays for Aryan Theatre, 1964 – 1973 public clear about the motive of why they eagerly wanted to · Founded Avant Garde Theatre Imphal, 1972 include the community which have a unique history of 2000 · Studied Tribal Ritual Theatre of Manipur, 1976 – 1979 years. Contd. from page 1 · Founded National Theatre Studies Imphal, 1980 Well as according to a statement appeared at a local paper it is · Studied Vaisnavite Theatre of Manipur, 1980 – 1985 stated that the vision of the committee is to bring coial equality, · Conducted theatre workshops, 1976 – 1996 development, peace and harmony –”by undoing the classification Fate of Manipuri Pony..... · Experimented on Theatre of Essence, 1985 – between Hills and plain people”. How could this be so sure when · Studied on Tala System of Nata Sankirtana 1993 – already the tribal people had strongly objected the demand since Plays Directed (Selected Few): The Cage (Manipuri), Mario Fratti, Aryan Theatre, 1971 the beginning? · Waiting for Godot (Manipuri), Samuel Becket, Avant Garde, 1977 On one hand social equality is a political economy system and · Andha Yug (Manipuri), Dharmabir Bharati, Sate Kala Akademi, 1987 this cannot be brought with a mere compensation from the · Shantata Court Chalu Ahe (Manipuri), Vijay Tendulkar, Avant Garde, 1979 government. It is a fact that , , · Caucasian Chalk Circle (Manipuri), Bertolt Breechit, Avant Garde, 1980 , , Lakshdeep and Andaman Nicobar Island · Baki Itihas (Hindi), Badal Sircar, National School of Drama, 1981 are Scheduled Tribe state, can somebody from among the · Adhe Adhure (Manipuri), Mohan Rakesh, Avant Garde, 1981 committee clarify that there is a social equality in these states. · The Seagul (Manipuri), Anton Chekov, Khoriphaba Artistes Assn. 1982 The logic behind the suffixing of the very term to bring social · Leharon ke Raj Hansa (Manipuri), Mohan Rakesh, Chorus Repertory equality is nothing but to fool the people which will never be Theatre, 1983 succeeded. · Abhigyan Sakuntalam, Kalidas (Hindi), National School of Drama, 1986 · Khamba Yelhou, Mani Mairembam, E. Department, 1986 To shorten up this argument it is clear that Manipur has a history · Abhigyan Sakuntalam (Hindi), Kalidas, Ranga Mandal, Bharat Bhawan, of 2000 years and this history is a treasure for the people of this 1987 erstwhile kingdom and converting the Meitei to scheduled tribe · Kangleipakta Sunugi Paphal (Translation Manipuri), Bertolt Breechit will surely sabotage the history of this erstwhile nation. · Swapana Vasabadatam (Hindi), National School of Drama, 1993 Many knows that Lamphelpat has mundane office expenses rather · Kakhraba Kokyam, G.C. Tongbra, Avant Garde,1994 enough food for ponies and no than development of the Manipuri · Aashad Ka Ek Din (Manipuri), Mohan Rakesh, IPA, (Realistic), 1995 2 injured as Lucknow metro need to provide their food and it ponies but in the name of · Aashad Ka Ek Din (Hindi), Mohan Rakesh, NSD, (Non Realistic / Experiment), 1996 has also been home to ponies since development. Theatre Workshops Conducted: ancient times where they get the Department of Veterinary & · For Aryan Theatre Imphal, sponsored by MSKA, 1976 pillar collapses freedom to run and play. Animal Husbandry Services, · For Rupmahal Artist Association, sponsored by MSKA, 1977 Sadly, most of the ponies are now Manipur “had unreasonably made · For Manipur Dramatic Union, sponsored by MSKA, 1977 Lucknow, April 18: Hardly two This is the second incident in two · For Social Dramatic Union, sponsored by MSKA, 1978 weeks after a person had a narrow weeks time despite strict gone, driven almost to extinction by fund provisions of Rs 16 lakh in the untrammeled development in · For Apunba Saktam Artist Association, sponsored by MSKA, 1978 escape after the metro concrete guidelines from chief advisor budgets 2010-14 under the · For Prince Theatre, sponsored by MSKA, 1978 fell on his car during construction LMRC E. Sreedharan about Imphal that has destroyed meadows detailed head – salaries, office · For Sangeet Natak Mandir, Nambol, sponsored by MSKA, 1979 in Lucknow, two people have enhancing security arrangements. and reclaimed lakes. Gigantic trucks expenses, domestic travel expenses · For Kumbi Dramatic Union, sponsored by MSKA, 1979 been severely injured on Sunday One patient undergoing treatment have been dumping loads of mud and other charges” for two fodder · For Kha Manipur Dramatic Union, Kakching, sponsored by MSKA, 1979 morning due to falling of the at Awadh Hospital was referred into Lamphelpat. The Imphal farms that became non-operational · For Lairenkabi Dramatic Union, sponsored by MSKA, 1980 concrete again near Alambagh as a precautionary measure to campus of the National Institute of since 2005 which later found out · For National School of Drama, 1981 bus station. Lucknow Metro Rail the KGMC Trauma centre. Technology (NIT) has also sprawl that said budget provisions of Rs · For National School of Drama, 1986 Corporation (LMRC) is laying CMS, KGMU, Dr Tiwari and across this area where the other 16 lakh, Rs 15.11 lakh was diverted · Theatre Workshop withTangkhul Actors, Jan – Feb, 1987 remained parts of Lamphelpat have by the department to meet · For Ranga Mandal, Bharat Bhawan, 1987 tracks on About 8.5km stretch ACM are coordinating · Paite Language Theatre Workshop with Paite Actors, Jan – Feb,1989 from Tranaport Nagar to things, the district magistrate been marked out for a range of expenditure for office expenses, unused government projects which · Mao Language Theatre Workshop with Mao Actors, April – May, 1990 Charbagh. said. diesel oil, repairing of vehicles and · For National School of Drama, 1993 only claim the land. stationery items etc of the · For National School of Drama, 1996 This force the ponies onto the directorate. Seminar Papers Presented: Press notification streets, where they are often run As per CAG on the procurement of · Perspective on Experimental Theatre in Manipur, Theatre Centre Manipur, Oct, There will be no power in the area fed by the Singjamei & over, or worse, choke to death on ponies the MHPRA had procured 1977 Canchipur Feeder on 19th April 2016 from 10.00am to 4.00pm because plastic waste swallowed while 39 nos of ponies at an average cost · Ritual Traditions and Theatre, Rural Theatre Organisation, 1979 of the installation of two new 25KVA DTRs in Singjamei Mayeng foraging in garbage dumps. of Rs 72,923 out of the central fund · Theatre of the Tribal Folks of Manipur, State Kala Akademi, Manipur, Jan, 1980 · Tribal Theatre in Manipur, Institute of People’s Action, Manipur, Sept, 1984 Leikai & Kakwa Pechu Lampak for the Street Lighting purpose. If we don’t save Lamphelpat, when where rate justification assessment there is a little chance, the remaining of the cost of pony was, however, · Folk Theatre Trend in Manipur, Panthoibi Natya Mandir, Sept, 1984 Sd/- · Purva Ranga in Manipuri Nata Sankritana (Dhrumel), Kalidas Akademi, Ujjain, Aug, 1984 Deputy Manager, ponies will vanish as the Manipuri not on record and not verified by pony doesn’t have a powerful · Lai Haraoba, the oldest theatre tradition of Manipur, E.Z.C.C, Calcutta, Aug, 1986 Singjamei Sub Division, the department. Records have -etc IED-III, MSPDCL. benefactor and the breed’s showed that MHRPA have sold (in Publications: extinction seems imminent. August 2013) 12 ponies to the · Memigi Doctor, Collections of Short Stories, H.Brother’s Publications, 1964 Many pony lovers, owners have National Research Centre on · Sandhya, Manipuri Novel, H.Brother’s Publications, 1969 WHENEVER YOU SEE CONSONSONSTRTRTRUUUCTION AND MINING taken up rally on the streets, even Equines (NRCE), Bikaner · Slogan, Manipuri Play, H.Brother’s Publications, 1971 EQUIPMENTS, JUST THINK OF US EQUIPMENTS, JUST THINK OF US sought for help from the concern (Rajasthan), at the rate of Rs 30,000 · Tamnalai, Anthology of poetry, H.Brother’s Publications, 1972 A SOLUTION FOR EVERY CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT department but none been heard so per pony as against the then · Manipurda Theatre Amasung Drama, National Theatre Studies, 1987 far. prevailing market rate of Rs 25,000 · Footprints of Manipuri Theatre and Drama, IPTA, 1987 Many animals and ponies have to Rs 30,000 for each pony. Later, · Holi Sankritana, Lakshmi NarayanNupi Holi Dal, April, 1986 · Theatre and Fine Arts upon Describing Arts, Arts Society, 1987 been loitering around the IMC areas CAG observed that the cost of pony which are against the rule but the · Short play of Mario Fratti, Manipur Literacy Society, 1988 included in the project estimate · World Introduction of Manipuri Dance, Progressive Artistes Lab, 1983 IMC failed to see their duty to avoid prepared by MHRPA was higher by · Jagoishabi Loishang, Manipuri Shahitya Parisad, 1982 animals loitering and roaming an amount of Rs 42,923 than that · Fine Arts and Theatre, Arts Society, Manipur, 1982 AAAutututomobile Engineering Worororkkks-1s-1s-1 around the city causing traffic of the selling price of a pony to · Lai Haraoba, the oldest Theatre Tradition of Manipur, EZCC, 1988 R K WORKORKORKSHOP problems, road accident. NRCE and the maximum prevailing · The Aesthetic of Khoi at Phanek Mapal, Panthung, 1999 New Checkon RRon oadoadoad, PurPur, ana RRana ajbariajbariajbari “Few years back, according to a market rate of pony.” · Adhivas and Drumel in Manipuri Nata Sankritana, 2002 Imphal East, CAG report on Manipur With these record, who to blame; · A Retrospection on the Tala Theory of Nata Sankritana, 2002 Manipur - 795 001 Government 2 years back Manipur who will take the responsibility; who · Nata Sankirtana Taala, Gulapi Nata Sankirtana Academy, 2002 · Bhagi Pareng Achouba, Sanchali, 2007 AFTER SALES SERVICE TO Horse Riding and Polo will save our Ponies? How long will ALL KINDS OF SPARE YOUR SATISFACTION Association (MHRPA), a body · Nata Sankritana, Gulapi Nata Sankirtana Academy, 2009 PARTS AVAILABLE we be watching ponies dying, entrusted with conservation of Films Directed: BEML Limited suffering, and foraging at the city · Eche Sakhi (Feature Manipuri), 1986 Authorised dealer Manipuri Pony, procured 39 trash? · Totangkam (Documentary in English), 1990 (A Government of India Mini Ratna Company under Ministry of Defence) ponies without rate justification on Will the government comes up with · Yaoshang (Documentary in English), 1991 account of which avoidable excess a new policies to save the · Manipuri Gorkhas (Documentary in English), 1991 Letters, Feedback and Suggestions to ‘Imphal Times’ expenditure of Rs 16.74 lakh was endangered Manipuri Ponies? · Loktak Lake (Documentary in English), 2005 can be sent to our e-mail : [email protected]. incurred from public fund and This are the question left in the mind Awards Conferred: For advertisement kindy contact: - State veterinary department were of the Manipuri people, pony lovers · Natya Ratna, Manipuri Shahitya Parisad, May, 2007 0385-2452159 (O) spending lakhs of rupees on and owners. · Neta Irabot Memorial Awards, September, 2012

Edited by Rinku Khumukcham, Owned and Published by Iboyaima Khuman at Keishamthong Elangbam Leikai, Imphal and Printed by him at M/s Imphal Times Printers, Elangbam Leikai Imphal West, Contact No. 2452159, Resident Editor- Jeet Akoijam