Strife compels Leela artistes to take up odd jobs
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 29 2023: The ongoing ethnic violence gripping Manipur has badly hit people of all walks of life and among them, the worst sufferers are the performing artistes.

The strife's effect is so much so that some Shumang Leela (Meetei courtyard theatre) artistes have changed their occupation for a living.

While some of them have took to driving auto rickshaws, others have forayed into construction works like mason, etc., said lifetime secretary Of Manipur State Shumang Leela Council, Sougrakpam Hemanta, who is also the top-notch comedian of the theatre, on Thursday.

In such a tough situation besieging the artistes, Shumang Leela promoters expressed apprehension that the age old traditional form of theatre will die if the violence spanning more than seven months continues unabated.

The unique feature of Shumang Leela is that male artistes, in their group, play the roles of females, while women artistes, in their group, play male roles.

Originally, Shumang Leela started as a comic genre presented to the kings and noblemen, which ultimately developed into the current form and over the years, it has become a powerful medium for mass education apart from providing entertainment as well as relaxation.

Hemanta informed that there are 15 male Shumang Leela groups and around 18 female groups in the state and each group has nearly 20 artistes.

He also shared that each artiste of the male group could earn nearly Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 per month during normal days.

Now the artistes are facing their hardest times as they could not even make a single rupee out of their play since the conflict started on May 3 in the state.

"Though we have not been asked by anyone to forgo performing Shumang Leela, our conscience doesn't permit us to stage play taking into account the ongoing violence that has claimed over 170 lives and left a trail of destructions across the state," Hemanta added.

"Because of this, many of our Shumang Leela artistes have taken up other occupations like construction works, blacksmith and driving taxis and auto rickshaws to support their families," Hemanta said, adding that some of them even sold their properties like gold ornaments, vehicles, etc.

During Covid-19 pandemic, they stopped staging Shumang Leela for over two years, he recalled.

"When the situation improved, we got a breather with a great expectation that we would make up our earnings, however, the unprecedented ethnic conflict has hit us the hardest now," lamented Hemanta, a resident of Irom Meijrao in Imphal West district.

"As we are facing our toughest times, forcing some of our artistes to take up other jobs, we have a constant fear of Shumang Leela dying if the violence goes on," the comedian further expressed.

He also requested the CM N Biren Singh led government to increase the amount given to artistes under the scheme Chief Ministergi Artistesinggi Tengbang (CMAT) to mitigate their sufferings.

"In our heydays, we staged Shumang Leela in the hill districts where many tribal people, including Kukis, enjoyed our play and we shook hands with each other.

Gone are those blissful days," Hemanta said, while praying for quick restoration peace in the state with the coming of New Year.

(Waari Singbul Network).

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