Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Sunday inaugurated a two-day national seminar dedicated to legendary theatre personality Ratan Thiyam at the auditorium of the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy in Imphal.
The seminar, jointly organised by the Manipur State Kala Akademi and the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, was held to commemorate the life, works and lasting legacy of the renowned playwright and director. The Governor, accompanied by the First Lady, paid floral tributes to Thiyam’s portrait at the academy and felicitated his wife and family members.
During the inaugural programme, the half-yearly journal of the Manipur State Kala Akademi, Manipuri Culture and Literature, dedicated to Ratan Thiyam, was formally released. A documentary film titled Ratan Thiyam: The Man of Theatre was also screened, chronicling his creative journey and highlighting his distinctive integration of traditional Manipuri art forms and martial arts with contemporary social and political themes.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Bhalla praised the organisers for holding the national seminar and highlighted Ratan Thiyam’s immense contribution to Indian and Manipuri theatre. He said that through iconic productions such as Chakravyuha, Uttar Priyadarshi and Nine Hills One Valley, Thiyam conveyed enduring messages of peace, harmony and cultural continuity.
The Governor noted that over a career spanning more than five decades, Ratan Thiyam brought Manipur global recognition and emerged as a cultural ambassador of the state. He also recalled Thiyam’s versatility as a director, playwright, designer, choreographer and writer, and expressed hope that the seminar would inspire young theatre practitioners to carry forward his artistic vision.
The inaugural session also featured addresses by JNMDA Vice-Chairman Longjam Joychandra and noted poet and writer Dr Udayan Vajpeyi, who reflected on the life and enduring influence of the late theatre icon.
