JNMDA progressing under present director: Guru Hemolata
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 01 2022:
While strongly condemning the statement issued by AIMS against incumbent JNMDA director, Guru Nameirakpam Ongbi Hemolata of the academy has said that the dance academy is progressing smoothly under the present director P Bilash, who is qualified and,understands culture well.
Addressing media persons on Friday at the premises of the academy, Hemolata said that JNMDA does not agree with AIMS terming the present JNMDA P Bilash as unqualified and unaware of culture and traditions of the land.
AIMS' statement itself shows that the organisation is unaware of culture of the land and such statement would not have been made if AIMS understands culture well, she asserted, while adding that P Bilash was appointed as JNMDA director in charge by the Ministry of Culture and Sangeet Natak Akademi as per existing norms.
Appointment of a regular JNMDA director at present is impossible as Sangeet Natak Akademi is presently without regular chairman, vice chairman and secretary and regular director of JNMDA will be appointed naturally when Sangeet Natak Akademi has a new general council and top officials, Hemolata said.
According to Hemolata, JNMDA is taking up many development programmes ever since P Bilash became the director in-charge and around 600 students are currently enrolled in the academy though only around 160 students were enrolled in the past.
This indeed is returning of JNMDA's past glory and the academy organised many festivals even during COVID-19 pandemic, she added.
Regarding P Bilash's educational qualification, Hemolata pointed out that he completed his MA from Manipur University and studied in the academy for nine years in different courses.
He is currently an A-grade artiste of DDK New Delhi and empanelled artiste of ICCR, New Delhi.
P Bilash is not only a State Kala Akademi awardee but also recipient of Ustad Bismilla Khan Yuva Puraskar in 2015 and he had worked with dedication for development of JNMDA for nearly 35 years, Hemolata added.