IMASI: THE MAHARAJ KUMARI BINODINI DEVI FOUNDATION
Collaborative Partners
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Monday 6th February
MK BINODINI DEVI CENTENARY OBSERVANCE
Monday 3:00 PM
Opening Program Concert
INVOCATION
Guru Sangyusang Pongener, Ao Memory-Keeper, Nagaland
SONGS OF BINODINI
In Manipuri. Artists of Roop Raag
MK Binodini's song lyrics were set to music by composers like Aribam Syam Sharma and Aheibam Buddhachandra. Romantic, patriotic or stories for children, these songs were written for the artists of Roop Raag. They are classics of contemporary Manipuri song called matamisei and are heard regularly on the radio and in concert.
Village Community Radio Broadcast
At 8:45 pm on Diamond FM Radio 91.2 MHz and Loktak FM Radio 90.4 MHz
ASANGBA NONGJABI
Radio Play by Binodini. In Manipuri. Directed by Kangabam Tomba
A painter is torn between his art and the two women in his life, one a sophisticated city girl and the other a simple village woman. MK Binodini Devi’s exploration of the eternal quest of the artist is celebrated for the beauty of its dialog both as a radio play and on the stage.Introduced by Dr.M. M. Nara and Kangabam Tomba.
Tuesday 7th February
SESSION 1: STUDIO
Tuesday 10:00 AM
Workshop
PRESERVATION, ARCHIVING, ACCESS, AND IPR OF TRADITION
Professor Shobhana Chelliah, Indiana University
Mary Burke, CoRSAL at University of North Texas, Denton
This talk introduces the CoRSAL archive and highlights the benefits of digital archiving—not only for preservation, but also for sharing these cherished traditions with both local and global audiences. Potential applications of archival material are discussed, such as involving youths in cultural activities, developing educational material, and promoting artists.
Discussant: Dr. L. Surjit, Manipur University of Culture
SESSION 2: THEATRE
Tuesday 11:00 AM
Performance and Discussion
THE SONGS OF REWBEN MASHANGVA
Contemporary Tangkhul Naga songs by the folk musician and singer known for reviving musical traditions of the Tangkhul Naga of Manipur, and for his use of traditional musical instruments in his performances. A recipient of the Padma Shri national honours, he is influenced by musicians like Bob Dylan and Bob Marley, Guru RewbenMashangva’soeuvre includes Naga tribal folk songs based on blues and ballads.
Discussant: Ngachonmi Chamroy, lyricist
SESSION 3: STUDIO
Tuesday 12:00 PM
CIIL Talk
SOUTH CENTRAL TIBETO-BURMAN FOLKLORIC MOTIFS AS SEEN IN THE WONDERCHILD STORY
David A. Peterson, Ph.D., Dartmouth College
An exploration of the folkloric motifs in the tale of the supernatural Wonderchild whoavenges the death of his brothers and father that is found in numerous Tibeto-Burman speaking communities of the Kuki-Chin, such as the Thadou in Manipur, the Lai in Burma, and the Khumi in Bangladesh.
Discussant: Prof. N. Pramodini, Manipur University
LUNCH BREAK
Tuesday 1:00 PM
SESSION 4: STUDIO
Tuesday 2:00 PM
CIIL Panel
CREATING DIGITAL RESOURCES FOR THE PROMOTION OF INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES
Panel Coordinator and Lead Speaker: Prof.Umarani Pappuswamy, CIIL (C-NELD). Panelists: Gilvan Müller de Oliveira, UNESCO Chair on Language Policies for Multilingualism; Hezekiel Dlamini, UNESCO New Delhi; Prof.Shobhana Chelliah, Indiana University; Aleendra Brahma, CIIL (C-NELD); and L. Somi Roy, Imasi Foundation.
SESSION 5: THEATRE
Tuesday 2:00 PM
Performance
THE CHANT OF THE MEMORY-KEEPER
Guru Sangyusang Pongener, with Sentila Yanger
Guru Sangyusang Pongener of the Ao tribe of Nagaland performs ritual chants of his tribe.
Discussant: Sentila Yanger, cultural conservationist
SESSION 6: THEATRE
Tuesday 3:00 PM
Performance
THE KILLING OF KICHOK: WARI LIBA FROM MANIPUR
Takhellambam Shyamkanhai
A dramatic storytelling from the Mahabharata of the dastardly Kichok’s attempt to seduce Draupadi, wife of the five Pandavabrothers – and the horrible fate that befalls the lecherousvillain at thewrath of the second brother, the strong man hero Bhim. A dramatic solo performance in the traditional wariliba style by SangeetNatak Youth awardee TakhellambamShyamkanhai, accompanied only by a pillow.
Discussant: Dr. Mayanglambam Sadananda, Dhanamanjuri University
SESSION 7: THEATRE
Tuesday 4:00 PM
Performance
THE KILLING OF KICHAKA: PANDAVANI FROM CHHATTISGARH
Dushyant Dwivedi and Group
The rousing version of the The Killing of Kichakaby SangeetNatak Youth awardee Dushyant Dwivedi performs the same episode of the Mahabharata in the Chhatisgrahistorytelling art form ofpandavanifrom central India. Asin Manipuri wariliba, and unlike in the rest of India, thepandvanisongs about the five righteous Pandava brothers, also feature Bheema asthe central character.
Introduced by Dr. Mayanglambam Sadananda, Dhanamanjuri University
TEA AND COOKIES
Wednesday 8th February
SESSION 1: STUDIO
Wednesday 10:00 AM
CIIL Panel
DEVELOPING COLLABORATIVE SCHOLARSHIP ON LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
Panel Coordinator and Lead Speaker: L. Somi Roy, Imasi Foundation
Panelists: Hezekiel Dlamini, UNESCO New Delhi; SentilaYanger, Padma Shri; David A. Peterson, Associate Professor of Linguistics, Dartmouth College; ChiromRajketan, Division of Oral Literature, Manipur University
SESSION 2: THEATRE
Wednesday 11:00 AM
Presentation and Performance
THE GATEWAY OF THE ANCESTORS
Thangi Chhangte, Ph.D.
Mizo songs by Liandala, a teacher and school inspector who composed starting in the 1920s during his tours on foot to the villages of Mizoram.He composed his own music and sang songs about his travels, nature and his people’s traditions that are still popular today.Dr.Chhangte will give a performance demonstration of the lyrics and music of Liandala, her grandfather.
SESSION 3: THEATRE
Wednesday 12:00 AM
Story-telling
WHAT MY GRANDMOTHER TOLD ME...
Schoolchildren of Emmanuel School, Haipi Village, Kangpokpi
Best friends... memories... household chores... Twelve schoolchildren from age 10 to 16 tell stories of what they heard from their grandmothers.
Discussant: Lamtinkim Joanne Kipgen, principal of Emmanuel School
LUNCH BREAK
Wednesday 1:00 PM
SESSION 4: THEATRE
Wednesday 2:00 PM
Book and Audiobook Presentation
NARRATING THE PRINCESS AND THE POLITICAL AGENT
L. Somi Roy
Presenting the Penguin 35th anniversary collector's edition of The Princess and the Political Agent the English translation by L. Somi Roy of Binodini’s Sahitya Award winning historical novel Boro Saheb Ongbi Sanatombi, and its Audible Audiobook read by the translator.
Discussant: Dr. Susma Sharma Gurumayum, Ph.D., Tamenglong College
SESSION 5: THEATRE
Wednesday 3:00 PM
Performance
KHONGJOM PARBA: HISTORY AND MEMORY IN SONG
The traditional 1891 ballad called the khongjomparbathat sings of the defeat of the Manipuris in the Anglo Manipuri War, the backdrop of The Princess and the Political Agent, performed by Sundari Devi.
Discussant: Dr. Mayanglambam Sadananda, Dhanamanjuri University
SESSION 6: THEATRE
Wednesday 4:00 PM
Performance and Discussion
TEIMEREN AIER AND SISTERS SIX
TiamerenAier has been an instrumental in preserving Ao Naga tribal music and language in Nagaland.Composer songwriter singer and a musician, he will be joined by the Jamir singing sisters Shilupenla,Lenen,and the youngest, Arnungla. TiamerenAier and Sister Six perform ethnic Naga music throughout the Northeast.
A drive down to the shrine of Ibudhou Koubru in Phayeng Village to take part in the Chakpa tradition of Manipur’s central festival called the Lai Haraoba. The creation of the cosmos and society is observed and performed by the community with the help of balladeers, shaman priestesses called the maibi, in dance, music and ritual. Dinner and festivities with the villagers.
Thursday 9th February
SESSION 1: STUDIO
Thursday 10:00 AM
CIIL Online Talk by Gilvan
ORAL LITERATURES OF LATIN AMERICA
Gilvan Müller de Oliveira, Ph.D., UNESCO Chair on Language Policies for Multilingualism
Discussant: Prof. Thounaojam Ratankumar, Manipur University
SESSION 2
Thursday 11:00 AM
Performance
PENA PHAMSAK
M. Mangangsana
Traditional Ballads sung in the endangered Old Manipuri language known as Aribalon by Mayanglambam Mangangsana, Manipur’s foremost balladeer. Accompanying himself on the percussive bowed instrument called the pena, he will sing about Khamba andThoibi, the star-crossed lovers from the kingdom of Moirang.
Discussant: Dr. L. Surjit, Manipur University of Culture
SESSION 3
Thursday 12:00 PM
Festival round up organized by Imasi Foundation
WHAT IS ORALITY ?
Panel Coordinator: L. Somi Roy, Imasi Foundation
BREAK FROM 1:00 PM ONWARDS
LUNCH AND ACTIVITIES ON YOUR OWN
CLOSING
Thursday 4:00 PM
Program at Kumbi Village
BLESSINGS
Guru Sangyusang Pongener, Ao Memory-Keeper, Nagaland
RURAL POLO GAME
A game of polo at the heritage Kumbi Kangjeibung Polo Ground by the Loktak Lake.
A CONCERT FOR NATURE
Pony Ballad and songs about nature by Mangka and M. Mangangsana of Laihui Ensemble, followed by folk-rock and folk pop by Guru Rewben Mashangva, TiamerenAier and His Band of Sisters, and artists of Roop Raag.
