JNMDA spruced up for jubilee celebration
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 30 2014:
With Vice President M Hamid Ansari, one of the high profile dignitaries, set to grace the diamond jubilee celebration of Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy on April 2 preparation is on a war footing in and around the campus.
According to the Academy Director L Upendro Sharma the formal inauguration of the celebration would be preceded by the ceremonial pujah on April 1 during which solo dances by gold medallists and traditional cultural items by the Academy students would be staged.
The first day of the celebration will also include presentation of awards and special honour to 10 veteran and contemporary gurus, dancers and scholars, release of souvenir and commemorative literatures.
The Vice President scheduled to attend a public event at Noney in Tamenglong district on April 3 will return to grace the valedictory function of the celebration on April 4, said the Director while informing that JNMDA was established in 1954 with the patronage of independent India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
It is believed that Pandit Nehru, immensely impressed after attending a Raas Leela performance at the royal palace during his maiden visit to Manipur, emphasised on setting up a dance institution in Manipur and subsequently provided Rs 20,000 for the project.
In addition to cultural performances by various artistes a national symposium on 'Growth and Development of Manipuri Dance: A Perspective' would also be organised at the Academy auditorium on April 3 as a component of the celebration in which renowned State and Indian art and theatre personalities will be attending.
More traditional art form including Pena recital and Pung Cholom performance would be organised on April 4 with the celebration set to officially wind up with the staging of Rabindranath Tagore's play 'chandalika' by artistes of Sattriya Kendra, Guwahati.
Gurus, dancers and scholars enlisted as recipients of the Diamond Jubilee Special Honour include Dr Kapila Vatsyayan, RK Singhajit Singh, Devjani Chaliha, Darshana Jhaveri, H Nganbi Devi, Y Jatra Singh, L Ibohalmacha Singh, N Ibobi Singh, Ng Kerani Singh and Kh Mangi Singh.
In connection with the celebration, black-topping and white-washing of the approach road and Academy building have been completed with only the final touches seemingly remaining for the grand event.