When the music dies
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: January 14 2013 -
Pena artiste Khangembam Mangi :: Pix Courtesy - Jimmy Leivon
Howsoever dire it may be, to talk of promoting Pena at this critical juncture when the minds of the people are pre-occupied with other weighty issues besetting the State may appear to be anachronous and even invite guffaw.
But the fact remains that Pena, the unique indigenous musical genre which has evolved since the dawn of Manipuri civilization and speaks eloquently of the true identity of Manipuri society and its people regardless of their habitation in the plain or the hill has become a dying art form today due to negligence and lack of patronage.
Pena is not just a two-piece stringed instrument that produces some sound that could not live up to the musical notations of the Hindustani or Western classical music.
The origin of Pena which is the only oldest known indigenous musical instrument associated to a unique style of singing goes back to legends of the land.
It is a treasure trove of cultural knowledge and tradition of the land and its people and it used to be the Royal Court music enjoying the patronage of the successive Manipuri kings who had set their foot on the soil of this magical place called Manipur.
But the onslaught other musical influences from outside and lack of initiative on the part of the Government and more particularly, the concerned departments and agencies which have thought not even proper to set up an institution where one can learn the art, has pushed Pena to the background, to be lost in oblivion.
This is indeed sad and unfortunate for a society which takes pride in its rich cultural heritage.
Today, people in every nook and corner of the conflict ravaged tiny State are raising their voices for the protection of Manipuri identity and territorial integrity.
But they have forgotten the sweet and haunting music of Pena which used to be an integral part of their daily existence recounting the riveting tale of brotherhood between the hill and the valley people.
When the Pena balladeer sings about the beauty of the mystical land surrounded by nine mountain ranges where Mother Nature showers the choicest and bounteous blessings for her children or about Moirang Kangleirol, it used to strike at the heart of the people.
Moirang Kangleirol is replete with legendary characters from both the hill and the valley who did not even dare to have no second thought before sacrificing their lives for each other.
Unfortunately, the soothing melodious sound of Pena that could even melts the heart of harden criminal is nowhere to be heard today and the number of surviving Pena balladeers could be counted on one's finger tips more generously than required.
This is the tragedy of Pena in its own birth place.
But as they say, better late than never, the situation calls for collective efforts towards revival and promotion of a dying indigenous art form that could reignite passion for sacrificial spirit among the people who have lived together in perfect harmony and peace until some divisive forces filled their ears with discordant jarring notes of disunity and mutual distrust.
* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.