An Experience of the Festival of Tribal Dance 2012 part 2

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An Experience of the Festival of Tribal Dance - 2012
Favouring the Peripheral Cultures # 2

B.C. Khuman *

Kom Dance at the Festival of Tribal Dance on March 26 2012 :: Picture Credit - Bullu Raj

Basically I love to intellectualise cultural events happening around us. So, why not look at the recent 'Festival of Tribal Dance' from a perspective of contemporary discourse in respect of national integration and communal harmony in the country.

Today the impacts of postmodern and postcolonial narratives are increasingly seen or felt around us in our day-to-day life even if the common man in the street cannot relate them to these discourses. The remarkable thing about these discourses is that they have shifted the focal point of any discourse from the centre to the periphery.

That is to say that the underprivileged, the marginalized or the ethnic minorities are now given due recognition and respect so far as their rich cultural heritage have been acknowledged as distinctively unique in their own way, and also their cultures are no more termed as inferior to that of the one(s) at the centre, as against the historical times when their political participation and economic activities were logistically suppressed with sanctions legistimised by the hegemonic political powers.

So the 21st century has seen the 'Civilised World' giving special attention to the cultural importance of indigenous people, propagated through international NGOs like the UNO.

Well, the remarkable shift of interest from the centre to the periphery or from the more visible to the less visible in contemporary discourses is but a segment of man's continued journey in the search for the truth, the beauty and the good throughout the history of world civilization.

Now, coming to Indian polity, an understanding of the centre-periphery dynamics would play a key-role in ensuring political stability, national integration, communal harmony and inclusive policy of development. Let's undertand the notion of 'melting pot' vis-à-vis national integration. This notion is obsolete now. The new phrase that has come to supersede 'melting pot of soup' is now 'bowl of salad' which is being preferably used in countries like the UK, Canada and Australia, countries which have experienced issues of multiculturalism – issues they have dealt with greater success than India.

The metaphorical significance of the 'bowl of salad' is that every piece of vegetable contained in the salad can retain its individual flovour. Both the soup in the 'melting' pot and the salad in the bowl eventually gives a new refreshing taste no doubt, yet the former desperately fails to recognize and appreciate the distinctiveness of the different ingredients individually, whereas the latter hopefully succeeds in doing so.

Likewise in a multicultural society the distinctiveness or the uniqueness of each and every community or ethnic group should not be compromised with the romanticized image of an official nationhood. In other words, the idealized image of a unified body should not be built up at the expense of the individual identity of every component unit. Only when the microscopic world of an ethnic minority, inherently characterized by its cultural specificity, is in good terms with the macroscopic construct of a national culture, real or imagined, there will be greater chance of peace, harmony and development in the country.

If one looks at the recent festival of tribal dance in the light of the above discussion, such an event is much more meaningful. If we ever dream of a united India, the minorities should be duly respected apart from granting them constitutional privileges. The outdated Nehruvian concept of national unity postulated the minorities and the less-privileged to be merged willingly or unwillingly with the dominant culture at the centre so as to get assimilated with the so-called mainstream culture. This concept has been historically proved wrong. Our own post-independence experiences have made this point clear.

Now the changed view is in support of a bilateral approach rather than a unilateral one. Bilateral approach means a two-way traffic of give and take. It would assure a dispensation of the psychological threat suffered by the minorities of being devoured by the bigger ones at the centre. Because it is based on mutual respect, understanding and co-operation.

This change of attitude may be rightly called the beginning of a new hope for the smaller cultures. This hope would eventually make them willing to accept the dominant culture(s) as their good neighbours or fellow cultures, but not as a superior and snobbish one. Anyway no culture is superior or inferior to any other as the scholars have enlightened us repeatedly.

In the brochure of the festival, Shri L. Upendro Sharma, the Director of the JNMDA writes : 'We hope that the festival would help in creating harmony and integration among the various sections of the people settling in the state.' The same sentiment was reflected in the inaugural speeches of the dignitaries.

Prof. N. Tombi Singh, the Vice-Chairman of the Academy said in his presidential speech that in a land of cultural diversities like Manipur or India we need to know each other better and appreciate each other's culture warmly through frequent meetings and socialization. This kind of festival has provided the opportunity to do so to a desirable extent, he added.

By using a metaphorical allusion, he commented that two fellows can never see each other clearly, communicate fruitfully and establish a relationship satisfactoryly as long as they turn their backs to each other, instead of remaining face to face. Eating and drinking face to face, singing and dancing face to face, exchanging ideas face to face – that's the way, he emphasized. This kind of appeal has become so much spontaneous now-a-days that even a crafty politician would pronounce this sentiment without much effort. The present age is certainly characterized by what Jaques Derrida would call 'decentering procedures' in all walks of life.

Shri B. Jayantakumar Sharma, the noted poet and lyricist, in his speech as the guest of honour, expressed his pleasure that the festival had re-emphasised the common characteristics and features amongst the different communities of Manipur in respect of ethnicity and cultural practices. Referring to the sacred fire extracted by means of 'Meiba Chingba' a few moments back on the very stage, marking the opening of the festival, that was now calmly burning in front of all eyes at the corner of the stage on an earthen plate supported by chest-high three poles, he wished joyfully and hopefully that like the blazing flame of the sacred fire the pristine relationship of the hills and the plain would remain pure and unconquerable.

Even in the vote of thanks, proposed by Shri Daikho Mao, the Principal of the JNMDA, the popular idea of patronizing the peripheral cultures was reflected well in the context of Manipur. The Principal expressed his delight that the organizer deliberately selected participating troupes from the interior parts of the hill districts as far as possible.

A unique feature of the recent festival was the Interaction Programme held every morning from 9 am to 12 noon. In this programme demonstrations were given by the performing troupes. Critics, scholars and intellectuals partaking the discussions wanted to know from the troupe leaders something about the philosophical background, historical facts related with their performance tradition of the particular tribe and at the same time expressed their concern over the dying art forms of the tribals.

While the gurus and ex-gurus of the JNMDA were obliged to comment on the aesthetics of the dances, their similarity or dissimilarity with Meitei dances. Students of the Academy were very much provoked by the interactions.

As an outcome of the interaction programme some alarming facts were being discovered about the present status of tribal arts and culture of Manipur.

They are as follows –

Much of the traditional culture of the tribals are being threatened now due to the impact of modernization, westernization and globalization.
Younger generation of the tribals are not much conversant with their own cultural practices these days.
There are very few elderly people now among the ethnic tribes of Manipur who are well-versed in their traditional culture.
Christianity is also one of the factors leading to the declining fate of traditional culture of the ethnic tribes in Manipur.
Mass awareness for reviving the tenets of indigenous performing arts and cultural practices are very low among the ethnic tribes of Manipur.

On the concluding day of the festival, during the dusky hours of the late evening, just after the festival was over, I managed to talk to some of the troupe leaders. But I ended up by meeting only two of them. Mr. Lamtajao Tarao from Heikrakpokpi Village of Chandel District expressed his sorrow over the unfortunate state of their traditional culture. He however works hard to bring some awareness among the school children of his small village.

Mr. P.Suingam of Tumoyong Khullen, Senapati District also expressed his deep concern over the fate of their culture, which might become from bad to worse unless something is done before it is too late. I found both of them passionately in love with their traditional cultures and indigenous form of dance and music.

I was telling to myself that these two gentlemen are among the few enthusiasts in every tribal community who have a vision and who could dedicate themselves for the sake of their cultural heritage, and of whom their communities should feel proud. I was also convinced that they have a common dilemma – the dilemmas of ignorance, inaccessibility to correct information, inaccessibility to the right person and the concerned authority when they want to do something in this respect.

In such a persuit government assistance is a must, as everybody would agree. I encouraged them in the name of the merciful God by quoting the saying that success crowns the one who toils hard day and night. Of course I gave them a few practical suggestions too. What else can I do ? But O God, let my suggestions be working in the least possible way. That was my prayer. From the core of my heart !

See related Photo Gallery on this event

* B.C. Khuman wrote this article for Hueiyen Lanpao (English Edition)
The writer is teaching English at Manipur College, Imphal and can be reached at pbiprachand(at)yahoo(dot)com
This article was posted on May 09, 2012.

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