MUC set for debut in August
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 07 2016 : Manipur University of Culture (MUC) would begin its session from August 2016, said Art and Culture Director Dr K Sushila while addressing a press conference organized by DIPR today.

She further revealed that more than 200 persons have applied for faculty positions.

The university was established with the enactment of the Manipur University of Culture Act 2015 with its temporary office located at Cultural Complex, Palace Compound.

Prof N Khagendra Singh was appointed as the first Vice Chancellor of the University and L Joychandra as its first Registrar.

Land for a permanent site for the university has already been acquired at Koutruk.

Initially, the University would start courses in dance, music and art, she said and added that that discussions are underway with experts to finalise inclusion of other subjects as well.

The process for starting the Film and Television Institute is underway with its temporary office functioning at the Manipur State Film Development Society Complex, the Director said.

Land for the institute had already been acquired at Khundrakpam (Chingkhu) and all out efforts are being made to start the session at the earliest, she added.

On the long awaited cultural policy, Dr Sushila informed that after the initial enthusiasm for such a policy, the momentum declined but the Art and Culture Department is in the process of final consultations with some eminent persons after which the policy would be put into effect at the earliest.

Similarly, for a film policy, the Department had asked for some final comments from some persons following which a State convention would be held for the framing of a film policy, she added.

Dr Sushila further said that the Department is in the process of taking over Imphal Art College, the lone aided college of art to upgrade it into a full fledged Government college.

In this regard, the Government has approved 220 appointments to various posts in Govt run dance, music and art colleges.

This would greatly enhance the working of these institutes and go a long way in producing quality students and scholars, she added.

Ever since the handing over of the Kangla Fort to the Government of Manipur by the Centre in 2004, the Art & Culture Department has been looking after the preservation of various monuments and structures, artifacts of historical significance constituting the Kangla Fort Board under the Kangla Fort Act, 2004 .

The various important structures inside the Kangla Fort closely linked with the history of Manipur include, Shri, Shri Govindaji Temple, Brindavanchandra Temple, Uttra Shanglen, Ibudhou Pakhangba Temple among others.

One of the main objectives of the Department is to promote the Art and Culture of Manipur and this objective is being carried forward by institutions like the Manipur State Kala Akademi, Dr Suhila said.

The Akademi, an autonomous body, promotes research in the field of music, dance, drama, literature, archives and fine art.

In recognition of their contributions to various fields of art, the Akademi awards fellowship, pensions and awards to artists of the State, she said.

The Director further said that the Department also runs the State Musuem, State Archives, the State Central Library and various district libraries.

The state museums houses six galleries, namely Ethnological Gallery, Natural History Gallery, Art Gallery, Children Gallery, Hiyan Hiren Gallery and Manuscript sections.

The Department also looks after INA memorial complex at Moirang which houses the National Army War Musuem and Netaji Library.

Some other significant activities of the Art and Culture Department organising the Bhagyachandra Festival of Classical Dance, a triennial event the first of which was organized in 1990 at Kangla.

Besides, the Department also organizes various cultural programmes in collaboration with zonal cultural centres, Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi.

It also undertakes cultural exchange programmes with Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh and China.

Another major achievement of the department is the completion of the digitization process of the various documents, manuscripts and other materials preserved in the Manipur State Archives with a grant of Rs 7 lakhs from the Government of India.

The Department also protects and preserves 59 sites of historical importance of the State at the moment, informed the Superintendent of Archeology K Dinamani Singh who was also present in the press conference.

He further revealed that though there are around 100 sites in the State which are of historical importance and which need to be preserved and protected, lack of adequate funding prohibits the taking over of such sites.

The Deputy Director of Art and Culture L Kishorejit Singh, the Curator of Manipur State Museum Y Binita Devi, Senior Lecturer K Dillikumar Singh assisted the Director of Art and Culture in the conference.

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