89th Thang-Ta Revival Day observed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 30 2022: The Huyel Langlon Thang-Ta Association, Manipur in association with Thang-Ta Maheikol, World Thang-Ta Federation, Asian Thang-Ta Federation and Thang-Ta Federation of India observed the 89th edition of "Thang-Ta Revival Day" at Thang-Ta Shanglen, Yumnam Huidrom today.

The observance programme was attended by Huidrom Premkumar, president World Thang-Ta Federation; Thounaojam Priyokumar, former secretary of Thang-Ta Federation of India and Heikrujam Cha Babu, secretary Huyel Langlon Thang-Ta Association, Manipur as chief guest, functional president and guest of honour respectively among others.

The members present also paid floral tributes and Thang-Ta salutations to the State martyrs.

89th Thang-Ta Revival Day observed

Huidrom Premkumar also spoke on the various aspects of Thang-Ta and the significance of observing the day.

He also delved into the importance of martial arts to a Nation, significance of Thang-Ta in defending Manipur which was once an independent kingdom, components of "Huyen Langlon/ knowledge of war art" and Anglo-Manipur war, said HLTTA in a release.

Considering the threat Huyel Langlon Thang-Ta art posed at the time, its practice was banned by the British Government after the Anglo-Manipur war and the incident became a dark day for Huyel Langlon Thang-Ta practitioners, he recalled.

However, the ban did not deter trained martial arts from practising and preaching the artform as they practised the art form secretly at night during the ban.

And after 43 years long ban by the British Government, Thang-Ta was revived by the strength of the Resolution No 8 of a meeting of the Nikhil Manipuri Mahasabha chaired by then King, Churachand KCSI, CBE under the British Rule on May 30, 1934, he recalled.

The entire Manipur martial practitioners were given a chance to train, to practice, to preach and to spread the martial art indigenous to Manipur openly throughout the country by the particular resolution which was proposed by S Samarendra BA, Ex Darbar member and supported by Phurailatpam Atombapu Sharma.

Hijam Irabot the then secretary, Nikhil Manipuri Mahasabha was the only key person who planned and arranged the proposal regarding the resolution, he added.

As a consequence with the permission from the King, Churachand an open school for imparting Thang-Ta to the people was set up at the residence of the Sintakpurel RK Sanahal on November 4, 1934 and the school was called "HUYEL LANGLON ACADEMY".

Many Thang-Ta training centres sprung forth gradually after the opening of the academy, he continued.