Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 30:
A three day workshop on 'Creativity of Manipuri Women Artisans' has been inaugurated at the Nupi Lan Memorial Auditorium today.
The inaugural programme of the workshop jointly organised by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Artistes, New Delhi and Manipur Film Development Corporation was held with National Lalit Akademi Award winner Thoidingjam Tombi Singh, Industrial Designer Sukumar Haobam and State Co-ordinator of the co-host Dr K Sobita Devi as the chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.
In her address, K Sobita recounted that female artisans were held in high esteem during the then independent Manipur with even a separate enclosure reserved for them at the palace.
She highlighted that women weavers during the reign of kings used to weave on clothings worn by kings, soldiers as well as common citizens which itself explains the reverence bestowed upon these artisans.
Sobita, however, expressed concerned that position of women artisans had been gradually declining in the present age due to lack of support and patronage for which the State Coordinator suggested that every effort need to be made to revive the rich tradition which would also contribute towards enriching the culture of Manipur.
She conveyed that the workshop is being organised to regenerate interest amongst the women artisans and to provide a basic platform for these artisans to augment their earning sources.