Imphal: The Guru Thanil Manipuri Cultural Academy marked its 14th foundation day at Brahmapur Bheigyabati Leikai in Imphal East. Artists and gurus gathered to honor Padma Shri awardee Guru Sougaijam Thanil Singh. They began the day with floral tributes to the founder. He dedicated his life to the documentation and promotion of Manipur heritage.
Chief guest Ph Ibotom Singh, a retired Pradhan Guru of the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, spoke at the event. He told the crowd, "Manipur was known for its rich cultural heritage inherited from its ancestors and that dedicated artists and gurus had an important role in preserving this legacy." The academy helps students succeed in both school and the performing arts.
Academy secretary Priyobarta Singh detailed the founder’s massive impact on state traditions. Guru Thanil died in 2023. Before his passing, he revived 64 traditional Rasas of Sankirtana singing and penned five books on the subject between 1971 and 2007. He worked on documentaries about Pung and Cholom instruments. His efforts proved vital for the 2013 inclusion of Manipuri Sankirtana on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Students closed the celebration with a showcase of local artistic traditions.
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