Support and motivation from parents and guardians is needed for the students to learn the unique art forms of Manipuri martial art, said in-charge director, JN Manipur Dance Academy, P Bilash.
He was speaking at the closing ceremony of a workshop on ‘thangbi taruk’ (a Manipuri martial art form) organised at the auditorium hall of Hueiyen Lalong Thang-Ta Cultural Association located at Irilbung on Thursday.
Bilash pointed out that Manipuri martial art was once used in warfare and for self defence while some of the people have started ignore the art form taking it as useless.
“At present however, Manipur is known to the world for the unique martial art form. After knowing the uniqueness of the art form, people have started opening institutions to learn Manipuri martial arts,” he added.
He further said that martial artists are getting good opportunity as the art form is getting familiar across the world. “To bring more development for Manipur martial art, people have been urging the government to put more information for the art form in educational syllabus,” said Bilash.
The JNMDA director in charge also stated that many students are receiving different scholarships from the concerned ministry for the martial art form.
While noting that a unit for Thang-Ta has been opened In JN Manipur Dance Academy, he assured that he will do his best to open post diploma course as well.
Director, Hueiyen Lalong Thang Ta Cultural Association, Irilbung, K Sanathoi Sharma also attended the programme as part of which students of the institution also demonstrated Thang-Ta performance.
The workshop was conducted for one month under the aegis of department of art and culture, government of Manipur.
