Loktak Lake is cradle of Manipur’s culture: Asnikumar

Dignitaries during the inaugural function of Loktak Lake Landscape Theatre Performance at Takmu

Loktak Lake is the cradle of culture of Manipur, said Asnikumar at the inaugural function of Loktak Lake Landscape Theatre Performance, organised at Takmu, yesterday.

The theme of the function was ‘Meet the Real Site and Fictional Space’ and it was held at Takmu Lake View side, Sendra, Thanga.

Attending the function as chief guest, state vice-president BJP Manipur Pradesh and environmentalist, Asnikumar said he is a son of the soil and he will sacrifice his life to save the Loktak Lake and Sangai.

He said that Loktak Lake and the civilisation of Manipur are very closely related and without the lake, the significant history of the state will be missing. Loktak Lake landscape theatre has to be brought up to international standards and the lake plays a pivotal role in the social and economic lives of many individuals in the state, he added.

The support of all is much needed for the cause of saving the lake, he said.

He continued that fishing women folks (Enchingbi) play a very unique role in the history of the lake and bring out the human, emotional side of the lake which is often ignored. Numerous talented young individuals living in the vicinity of the lake are jobless and living with a bleak future, even though many of them have educational qualifications, he added.

Asnikumar said that it is a prerequisite condition to uplift them through provision of economic avenues which are related to the lake, especially in the field of tourism and fisheries.

He also appealed to refrain from bringing politics into the issue of saving the lake from further degradation.

In the state tourism, theatre, art and culture cannot be separated and the Loktak Lake is the binding force of all these components. The development of the Loktak Lake performance theatre is a huge step towards showcasing the whole beauty of Manipur in a simple way, said Asnikumar.

He further said, “It is high time that a holistic approach is adopted to save the dying lake and it is up to the people of the state to decide how we want the legacy of the lake to be defined.”

“We can either let it fade into oblivion or we can all work hand in hand to bring back the lake to its past glory,” added Asnikumar.