Seram Mangi Singh Memorial Lecture: "Natasankirtana and its contribution to Manipuri Culture"

Thoudam Imomacha Singh *

Nupa Pala - during a Nat Sankirtan performance :: Pix - Bunti Phurailatpam

Seram Mangi Singh Foundation, Imphal had judiciously celebrated the 2nd Commemoration Day of the late Seram Mangi Singh, on the 11th of December, 2014, at 1.00 pm at the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal. The Commemoration event commenced with an academic flavour and serenity.

Seram Mangi Singh was a veteran broadcast journalist with a wide range of experience in his profession. Besides, he was a multi-faceted social activist of contemporary Manipur society. Civil in manners, with a humanistic approach to understand men and matters, it was conspicuous that Seram Mangi was a man of wit during his worldly existence.

Every memorial lecture to commemorate a leader, an activist or a celebrity is primarily based on a theme focusing on new vistas. As a matter of fact, organizing a memorial lecture is an educative process, rather a programme of enlightenment of public mind. In this respect, mention may be made of the late PV Narasimha Rao, a former Prime Minister of India, who was exceptionally admired for his lucid memorial lecture on "Relevance of Gandhi" at UNESCO, a long time ago. The title of a biography of P.V. Narasimha Rao is: "The scholar Prime Minister". Another mandarin who is often connected with memorial lectures was PN Haksar. He spoke with precision on any subject given.

This year's Seram Mangi Singh Memorial Lecture was delivered by Prof. MC Arun of the Department of Anthropology, Manipur University (MU), Canchipur. A young scholar with specialization in Anthropology, Prof. Arun was a right choice of Seram Mangi Singh Foundation, Imphal to speak on "Natasankirtana and its contribution to Manipuri Culture".

As we all know, anthropology is an important subject in the light that any historical findings cannot claim veracity without being confirmed by Anthropology. Anthropology and Archeology play a distinct role in the authentication of historical discoveries.

At the kick off of his lecture, Prof. MC Arun jocularly expressed himself by saying, he was not at all a scholar, but he was rather interested to provoke others to speak out their mind on important matters and issues of academic concern. This statement itself reflects his maturity as a pedagogue. Like what Prof. Arun said, Greek philosopher Socrates (470-399 BC) always used to provoke ordinary citizens in Athens and picked up an argument to let him express his mind freely to churn out the logic behind a premise.

Socrates had not written anything himself. Modern world can study about him from the writings of Plato and Aristotle, who were the most revered Greek philosophers. Plato was also a disciple of Socrates.

Now, coming to the memorial lecture again, Prof. Arun was precise in stating that Nongda Lairen Pakhangba, the patriarch of Kingship in ancient Manipur, ruled the land as the earliest King in 33 A.D. and with a view to this Prof. Arun opined that Manipur had a social order under the Kingship as early as the first century.

According to writers of ancient Indian history, India came into contact with the outside world commercially since about the 3rd millennium. What is unique about this contact was that the spread of Indian culture and civilization, specially in Central Asia, China, Japan and Korea had taken place.

Another significant feature about this transmission of Indian culture in this region was spontaneous, there was no war or threat to the life of people in these countries. In fact the spread was by means of voluntary acceptance of Indian culture and spiritual values, literature and religion. No other culture or civilization had achieved its transmission by means of non-violence and cultural and religious influence, Prof Arun opined.

The writer also shares the viewpoint of Prof. Arun that the ancient Manipuri Kings since the time of Nongda Lairen Pakhangba were political beings with adequate knowledge of statecraft. He (Prof Arun) also stated it was King Kiyamba who received an idol of Lord Vishnu as a gift and with that the influence of Hindu religion was sprinkled on the then Manipur polity.

Maharaj Bhagyachandra who was popularly known as Rajarshi Bhagyachandra was a great patron of religion, art and culture, music and dance, during his time. He also promoted the learning of the Vedas, (which were also known as Puranas) at that time.

Regarding the dream that King Bhagyachandra was said to have dreamt, Prof. Arun has interpreted it to be the inner vision of the King himself. Prof Arun was of the view that Rajarshi Bhagyachandra had transformed the then cult of Hinduism of Indian mainland by cultivating the local ingredients of worship and even the dress of the followers of the religion.

He (King Bhagyachandra) had even given a new impetus to the icon of Lord Govindajee and that of His divine consort Rasheswari (Radha) that had provoked a magnetic appeal to the Bhaktas (devotees). So the philosophical interpretation of Prof Arun about Bhagyachandra's dream is indeed a matter of wide connotation.

This episode of a dream had moulded King Bhagyachandra to have earned a prospect of command, love, adoration and even favour from his contemporary peers.

Prof. Arun was amply right when he said Manipuri culture reached its climax during the reign of King Bhagyachandra. The writer is of the view that the cult of Veishnavism that Rajarshi Bhagyachandra had evolved had its own uniqueness in the realm of Vaishnavism in India.

In view of Rajarshi Bhagyachandra's sublime influence and dedication to the Godhead (Lord Krishna) the Manipuri sect of Vaishnavism could even be defined as "Manipuri School of Vaishnavism". This was a mind-blowing submission from Prof. Arun.

However, in his memorial lecture, Prof. MC Arun confined himself more to the elucidation of the evolution of Natasankirtana than its contribution to Manipuri culture. However, he (Prof. Arun) did not miss to add his earnest viewpoint that Natasankirtana is almost a part and parcel of Manipuri Culture.

In the conclusion of his oratory, Prof. MC Arun expressed his astounding joy that UNESCO has formally appreciated and accepted Manipuri Natasankirtana as a religio-cultural art form. In the conclusion of his write-up, the writer cannot but say, Prof. M.C. Arun deserves every applause from the audience on the commemoration day.

The writer must also be thankful to Seram Mangi Singh Foundation, Imphal, for the privilege extended to him to attend the commemoration ceremony.