Manipur Education Minister Th Basantakumar Singh on Friday inaugurated the Imphal Literature Festival which is being held as a part of Manipur Sangai Festival at JN Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal and said that literature is a key element to bring development, unity and integrity in the state.
The programme is being organised by Sahitya Thoupang Lup (Sathoulup) Imphal in collaboration with Manipur Sahitya Parishad, Meghalaya; Phunga Heritage, Shillong and JN Dance Academy, Imphal Manipur and sponsored by department of Tourism, government of Manipur and supported by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) North East.
Attending the function as chief guest, Basantakumar said that in this era of knowledge, the society won’t be able to progress and develop unless people are not eager to learn the ideas and thoughts of other communities, states or countries. As such, conducting literary festivals to share or exchange ideas or thoughts is much needed, the minister added.
He said that literature is one of the basic needs to bring unity and integrity within the communities, between the states and countries. With this view, the Manipur government has taken up the programme of a two-month long dialect learning course and will even provide an incentive of Rs 5,000 per month, he added.
The state government is organising the Sangai Festival with the main focus to attract tourists and become one of the best tourism hubs in the country. And through this festival, it would surely help to share literary knowledge between various countries who are coming to attend this literary festival, he added.
As a part of the programme, three books entitled as “Voices Now World Poetry Today”, an international anthology of English Poetry edited by Braja K Sorkar and Binay Laha; “Leigi Laisang” written by G Binamadhav Sharma and “Mangalgee Lambi” written by N Ranjita were released.
Along with this, the Sangai Award was also presented to Environmental Social Reformation and Sangai Protection Forum, Keibul Lamjao.
As many as 15 delegates from other states and countries came to attend this literary festival. The festival will be held in three different places, namely, JN Manipur Dance Academy Imphal; Marjing Polo Complex and Mandha Island, Loktak.
The programme was also attended by deputy director of Bangla Academy, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Md Sahadat Hossain; eminent writer and essayist, Ayathurai Santhan and ICCR North East, Munish Ningtghoujam as guests of honour and president respectively.
