Spiritual and Physical Dimension of Manipur Martial Arts

Dr. Bishwajeet Elangbam *

INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR-and -WORKSHOP ON
"SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL DIMENSION OF MANIPUR MARTIAL ARTS"

Organised by:
MANIPUR UNIVERSITY
The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi.
Director, Department of Art and Culture, Government of Manipur.
Director, Education (S), Government of Manipur
Meetei Ipa Ipu Salai Inat Khongul Leeba Lup (MIISIKHOLL)

Venue: Manipur University Campus, Imphal

Date: 9th to 12th August, 2008

International Seminar and Workshop on "Spiritual and Physical Dimension of Manipur's Martial Arts."

Concept Note:

The four day organisation of a International Seminar Cum Workshop on "Spiritual and physical dimensions of Manipuri Martial Arts" is an attempt to put together in one event the overwhelming complexity of the entire martial arts traditions of the ethnic communities of Manipur. This venture has not been attempted before.

The necessity to bring the various hills and plains traditions of martial arts together at one go is compelled by the need to draw the attention of the academics, the university intellectuals and the general public about the ascent of the cultural practice of Manipur Martial arts in the international arena, and the desire for students from the international community to learn and practice the same.

However, though the attention drawn by Manipur Martial Arts had been unprecedented in its relation of the brilliance, ingenuity and power of the fighting arts of the Manipur people, yet the exhibitory character of its performances had sidelined the spiritual dimensions of the arts, and the deeper implications for the innermost core of the civilization itself.

The strength, character and self discipline of the warrior citizens, the values of self control, the regulation of customary humanitarian principles for the welfare of the other opponent and general concern for collective welfare had not been emphasized in the understanding of practice of the art itself, which is unfortunate.

At the same time, the need for scientific, rational understanding of its practice, standardization of its intrinsic principles and institutionalizing of its codes and conducts had become a modern necessity.

Click here for a full blown scanned picture of the invitation card with programme details here.

The university can play an exemplary role for institutionalising of its codes and conducts. The university can play an exemplary role for institutionalizing the practice of the arts for future students of the international community. We are all aware of the advances made by the Japanese, Chinese and Southeast Asian nations in the development of their martial arts traditions. The practice of the respective martial arts had been inculcated in schools collages and universities.

For Manipur, the martial arts remain just as another exhibitory item in the Festivals and Sponsored shows, a regular commodity product. This is part of the disorientation in the culture of patronage of the arts in the Indian Nation state. The University of Manipur can help correct this anomaly in understanding the values of Manipur Martial Arts.
v The seminar-and -Workshop proposed in this event therefore is a necessary exercise towards a deeper and wider understanding of Manipur Martial Arts and its cultural meaning. It would like to draw the attention of all towards the richness and variety of the martial art practices, the patterns of relationship and attitude of its practitioners to the wider reality in the polity, the need for cooperative living or self preservation of the communities in the midst of conflict.

The necessity of war and survival, the struggle of power and hegemony and the various implications in the polities of nation states must have been intricately woven into the fabric of the arts practice.

Understanding martial art helps to understand and respect the human spirit. It also teaches and encourages the need for the fulfilment of an individual's responsibility to the service of the community and the state.

The four day Seminar is an attempt to unravel this reality.

This vital event would also attract the gathering to witness along with the demonstration of other associate principles and practices hitherto unexplored in the realm of martial arts culture. Certain games, rituals, dances and exercises would inform the totality of the martial culture of the communities.

The event would be an exemplary collective get together of the indigenous communities of Manipur namely, the Meetei, the Mao, the Tangkhul, the Kom, the Maring, the Kabui, the Thadou, the Chothe, etc. who still nourish the exciting tradition of their war dances, martial games, rituals and belief system of their esoteric part.

Proper documentation of these forms, valued information and dispassionate discussions would contribute to the development of resource base of cultural information vital to the revitalization of Manipur plural order and civilization.

Related Articles/ Ooba Video

• Pictures Gallery on this seminar
• Thang Ta Demo - Thang Chung-goi Yannaba :: Ooba Video
• Thang Ta Demo - Thang-jou Yannaba :: Ooba Video
• Thang Ta Demo - Thangshang Yannaba :: Ooba Video
• Thang Ta Demo - Yet-thang Oi-thang Yannaba :: Ooba Video
• Thanga Ta - Martial Arts :: IAP MHA CTL

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* Dr. Bishwajeet Elangbam (based at Coventry, UK and a regular contributor to e-pao.net ) provided this announcement . The writer can be contacted at biselangbam(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)uk . This article was webcasted on August 08, 2008.

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