‘Preserve manuscripts of B Manipuri dramas’

Courtesy: The Sentinel 

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Feb 7: The Bishnupriya Manipuri Writers’ Forum (BMWF) conducted a seminar on “Bishnupriya Manipuri Drama” on Sunday evening at Radhamadhab Sebashram at Maligaon in Guwahati. It was followed by a poets’ meet.

Speaking at the seminar presided over by noted poet Sashi Kumar Sinha, BMWF president DILS Lakshmindra Sinha and Dr Smriti Kumar Sinha, professor and Dean of Students’ Welfare, Tezpur University, dwelt at length on the origin and development of Bishnupriya Manipuri drama. Dr Sinha gave a detalied account on Bishnupriya Manipuri drama vis-a-vis elements of Indian dramas and western theatre found in them.

Dr Sinha threw enough light on Indian drama and the role of Bharat Natya Shastra on them, and the artistic blend of Bharat Natya Shastra and the folk elements of the Bishnupriya Manipuri community. He also threw light on performances like Udukhal Leela, Gostha Leela, Lankakanda, Kurukshetra and the like seen in the Bishnupriya Manipur dramas, apart from historical and social dramas. He, however, expressed his displeasure over the present plight of drama in the Bishnupriya Manipuri literature. He appealed to the litterateur in the community to prevent the manuscripts of Bishnupriya Manipuri dramas that are on the verge of being destroyed due to lack of proper preservation and lack of archival activities in the community. He made mention of the drama movement that had taken place in the community at Narshingpur near Kabuganj in Cachar district.

In his speech, DILS Sinha threw enough light on the drama movement that had taken place in Durlabchhara and Pratapgarh now in Karimganj district. Earlier DILS Sinha gave a detalied account on the BMWF and the present plight of Bishnupriya Manipuri language and literature. Noted social worker advocate Bhimsen Sinha also spoke on the occasion, while poets like Narendra Sinha, Namita Sinha, Krishnacharan Sinha and others read out their self-composed poems.

Meanwhile, Dr Sinha launched the website of the BMWF (bmwritersforum@gmail.com) at the function. Pratibha Sinha, who developed the website, gave a brief account on the website.