Meet resolves to invalidate Nat Sanskirtan
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, December 24, 2013: A public meeting convened by Leipak Kanba Ahallup (LEIKALLUP) at Manipur Press Club here today to discuss issues related to rectification of acknowledgement given to Nat Sanskirtan as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO has unanimously resolved to entrust Kangla Khunthok`Yai Apun Luplan with the responsibility taking up necessary action in this regard.

The meeting was attended by Soubam Irikhomba Luwang, president of Kangla Khunthok Yai Apun Luplan; Nepram Nungkangba, president of Leipak Kanba Ahal Lup; Sukham Marutombi, president of Kangla Kanba Lup; Moirangthem Naodalenkhomba, former president of MEELAL and Sanabam Khamba, vice-president of LEIKALLUP as Presidium Members.

Delivering the key note address of the meeting, Yangoi Piba, general secretary of LEIKALLUP observed that Nat Sanskirtan should be not be included into the representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO as the art form has been in practice without any historical foundation and knowledge of indigenous people in Manipur.

He stated that the art form was formed by incorporating the term 'Sanskirtan' which is not the original word of the language spoken by the indigenous people of the State and in accordance to the accounts given in the Cheitharol Kumbaba, it is 237/238 years old and it came into existence during the reign of Maharaj Bheigyachandra only.

Maintaining that a report will be sent to UNESCO urging them to rectify the controversial entry of Nat Sanskirtan into its cultural heritage list, Yangoi Piba asserted that the elements of Nat Sanskirtan have been borrowed from Meetei cultural elements and so its formation and subsequent acknowledgement as a cultural heritage of UNESCO should be invalidated.

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