Louriyam (o) Thaba : Living up to her father's dream
Nomita Khongbantabam *
Young Artists performing Thang-Ta at the 2nd North East Festival of Thang-Ta in March 29 2012
Pix - Bunti Phurailatpam
One of the oldest woman Thang-Ta performers in Manipur talks to Nomita Khongbantabam on the trials and tribulations of being performer and setting up her own school to pass on a legacy.
"My father was always happy to see me doing exercise in acrobatics. In fact, he did not want me to go to school", said Louriyam (O) Thaba Devi, one of the oldest woman Thang-ta performers in Manipur.
Talking to Hueiyen Lanpao, Thaba recalled that her father Puthem Ahanjao taught her the skills of acrobatics since childhood.
Later, when she was around 12 years old, she learned Leiteng, a particular form of Thang-ta under the guidance of Gourakishor of Irilbung. Thaba was the first woman Thang-ta student under the well-known Guru.
Apart from learning Thang-ta, Thaba also learned various acrobatic skills like spinning plates in finger tips and walking over broken glasses.
Recollecting the performances she had given in Thang-ta and other acrobatics around the state, Thaba informed that she first performed in a tour programme for two years in Assam. After coming back, she started giving shows during Lai-Haraoba festival all over the state.
"My father took me to all these festival venues in a bicycle and it was a hard time for us to reach the place", Thaba recalled.
Thaba got a scholarship from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India at the age of 19 years. However, after her marriage Thaba stopped giving performances for some years.
Now that her children have grown up, Thaba has started a training school called Performing Organisation for Arts and Culture at her residence at Keirao Bitra Khunou. There are more than 30 students in the school.
Thaba said, 'It is very hard to set up the school. My husband extended some financial assistance for purchasing the costumes/outfits of the students and the students contributed the required funds for tools and other equipments essential for Thang-ta performances.
* Nomita Khongbantabam wrote this article for Huieyen Lanpao (English Edition)
This article was webcasted on September 23 2012.
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