A personality beyond theatre The man in Ratan Thiyam
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Long before Delhi woke up to the need of engaging with representatives of the two communities ‘at war’ at the table, late Ratan Thiyam had spoken on the need to initiate a dialogue to resolve the issue. This was back on May 28, 2023, when violence was at its peak, in an interview given to the Directorate of Public Relations, Manipur. Not surprisingly the take of the late theatre personality made it to the news of all the major publications in the rest of the country and here one is left wondering whether anyone or any body or organisation had given any thought to what the late man had to say. In the same vein and in the same interview Thiyam had also spoken on the need for the different religious leaders from the Temples, Churches and Mosques to come forward and study what means need to be pursued to walk the road of peace and normalcy. Genuine commitment and empathy from the Government, that is Delhi, was also called for, and while this was on May 28, 2023, that is just some days after violence erupted on May 3, 2023, the fact stands that the matter is yet to be resolved even after a lapse of more than two years. Peace and normalcy and cordial relationship between different communities, this was central to the idea espoused by the late man and now that Thiyam is no ‘longer with us’, one wonders whether anyone of any social or political standing had taken his words of wisdom with the merit they deserved. As news of the passing of the great man did the round, the office of The Sangai Express has been flooded with condolence messages but did any of the organisation which has condoled his demise give any thought to his stand ? In the earlier days of the violence or stand off, one did see some efforts being made by different religious organisations such as the All Manipur Christian Organisation (AMCO), but this soon petered off and surely this did not say well of any efforts taken up to usher in a semblance of normalcy. In the death of Ratan Thiyam, Manipur has lost one of her most illustrious sons, a personality who took the name of the place and her people to the world stage, but did Manipur reciprocate accordingly ? The answer is out there somewhere but a look at the reality, the things happening around should give everyone a fair idea to the question that has just been raised. Theatre, the art, culture, sports are some areas in which Manipur has been able to make a name for herself on the global stage, but apart from the verbal support and the act of foisting personalities who have excelled in these fields, has Manipur been able to repay by sticking to the ideas they espouse or have espoused while they were alive ? A look back at what the late Thiyam said on May 28, 2023 should give everyone some answer to the question raised here.
The Sangai Express never had the opportunity to interact directly or be closely associated with the late theatre personality, but this should not mean that the greatness in the late man was not noted or acknowledged. The acknowledgment, the paeans, the stories that followed after his demise, all reflect the sway that the late man had over the popular imagination of the people. A quality associated with only those who can feel and understand the pulse of the people and Ratan Thiyam was this and more. A fact borne by the fact that while Thiyam made his name in the world of theatre to many he was something more than and known to anyone who may not have any interest in theatre or the performing art. Manipur needs to revisit what he had said back on May 28, 2023 and it will be more than clear that what was said more than two years back sounds more and more true today. The proactive role of religious leaders drawn from the Churches, the Temples, the Mosques, which he stressed on is something that can never be dated. So was his call to the communities of other North Eastern States to see what they can do to resolve the issue as well as to the Centre to send Union Ministers and study the reality. Today Manipur and the rest of the country may sing paeans in his name, but the true tribute that can be paid to the late man is to acknowledge his call for efforts to usher in a sort of normalcy and start working towards it. Manipur has lost one of her most illustrious sons and the best respect that one can pay to the late soul is work towards actuating his call for peace and normalcy. This should ring a bell in all humans and Manipur is all about humanity.
The Sangai Express never had the opportunity to interact directly or be closely associated with the late theatre personality, but this should not mean that the greatness in the late man was not noted or acknowledged. The acknowledgment, the paeans, the stories that followed after his demise, all reflect the sway that the late man had over the popular imagination of the people. A quality associated with only those who can feel and understand the pulse of the people and Ratan Thiyam was this and more. A fact borne by the fact that while Thiyam made his name in the world of theatre to many he was something more than and known to anyone who may not have any interest in theatre or the performing art. Manipur needs to revisit what he had said back on May 28, 2023 and it will be more than clear that what was said more than two years back sounds more and more true today. The proactive role of religious leaders drawn from the Churches, the Temples, the Mosques, which he stressed on is something that can never be dated. So was his call to the communities of other North Eastern States to see what they can do to resolve the issue as well as to the Centre to send Union Ministers and study the reality. Today Manipur and the rest of the country may sing paeans in his name, but the true tribute that can be paid to the late man is to acknowledge his call for efforts to usher in a sort of normalcy and start working towards it. Manipur has lost one of her most illustrious sons and the best respect that one can pay to the late soul is work towards actuating his call for peace and normalcy. This should ring a bell in all humans and Manipur is all about humanity.