Manipur minister Th Biswajit Singh on Monday appealed to all to share their views and ideas for preservation of Shumang Leela, terming it an engenderedd traditional performing art form of the state.
The minister was addressing the closing function of the 11-day-long 18th Shumang Leela Ningtham Kumhei-2021-2022 held at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen on Monday.
The programme was organised by Manipur State Shumang Leela Council in commemoration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
Biswajit recalled that Shumang Leela was believed to have been started since 1895 and was officially recognised as one of the art forms in the year 1918. Since then, the said art form has been playing a crucial role in shaping the society till date. But unfortunately, the condition of Shumang Leela has been worsening each day and even becoming an “endangering art form”, the minister lamented.
Responding to the proposal made by Sougrakpam Hemanta, Lifetime Secretary of Manipur State Shumang Leela Council, who suggested they be allowed producing Shumang Leela of every department as their promotional item, Biswajit assured to discuss the matter with his colleagues and take up the initiative in the said proposal. He also suggested to Shumang Leela artists to propagate the history and origin of Shumang Leela before presenting their performance in every show wherever it is displayed.
“I accept that the state hasn’t taken up enough steps to preserve and promote various art forms of state,” he stated while appealing to people of the state to come up with ideas and suggestions for preservation of Shumang Leela.
He also said that Shumang Leela gives jobs to at least a few sections, apart from just entertaining the viewers. Though everyone accepted that art and culture play a significant role in glorifying state at national and international level, it is high time to bring up a solution to uplift the status of Shumang Leela, he asserted.
Lifetime Secretary, Manipur State Shumang Leela, Sougrakpam Hemanta said that Shumang Leela has been celebrated as an objective to preserve and promote this art form. It is very fortunate for them that the state government has started showing interest in the welfare of artists. However due to non-allocation of budget of this art form, the artists still suffer in many ways, he added.
He informed that there are only 11 Shumang Leela parties in the state and opined that their problems may reduce to some extent had at least some government department provided them some privilege in the form of producing promotional items or sensitization programmes of the department.
Other dignitaries who attended the function were MLA of Hiyanglam AC, Dr Yumnam Radheshyam and president, Manipur State Shumang Leela Council, M Purnimashi Leima as president and guest of honour respectively.
As a part of the programme, a Shumang Leela, Cheirak, produced by The Lamjingba Artistes’ Association was displayed.
