LEIMAPOKPAM LAKPATI -- a Popular Ritual Singer

Lakpati in Nata Sankirtana attire.

When he breaks into song, he's a singer extraordinaire -- hypnotising his fans. Every nuance of the lyric makes his frame swayed; every pitch of the vocal, modulates his bhakti. During the performance, his audience would not only watch him in rapt attention but also prostrate before him, with tears even, one after another, in the centre of the mandapa, where the ceremony is being held. The ultimate devotion is ecstatic.

Leimapokpam Lakpati, a popular Nata Sankirtana performer, has captivated and enthralled the devout Vaishnavas of Manipuri Hindu society. The singer guru of the mass, shining star of the time, he has a mellifluous voice and perfect body language known as abhinaya in this musical lexicon.

His rhythmic movement of kartal cholom, dancing with hand cymbals, perfected on the tala beat of pung (mridanga), in unison with his co-artistes; all are to be seen to believe. An aesthetic synchronization of three elements namely, ritual-singing, dancing and drumming into one art form called Nata Sankirtana -- a religious performance -- to eulogise the Lord Krishna Chaitanya. Yes -- an intangible cultural heritage of humanity indeed.

The Nata Sankirtana is one of the most popular cultural aspects in the lives of Manipuri Hindus. The style came from Bengal (and possibly Assam also) and this musical type got mixed with Manipuri traditional folk tune. Started as Bangadesh pala in 1709 AD, followed by Manoharshai pala in 1850, the genre got rooted to the cultural soil of the State during the time of king Garibniwaj (1709 - 1748). During the reign of Rajashri Bhagyachandra (1764 - 1789) it had reached its pinnacle of fame.

Lakpati enacting kartal cholom.

 No religious functions like marriage or shradha ceremony were complete without a Sankirtana programme. Even the famous Manipuri classical dance – Ras Leela – which is one of the eight classical dances of India recognised by Sangeet Natak Akademi is an extension of this musical form. Every Ras Leela programme is preceded by a Nata Sankirtana performance. The tandava (masculine) and lasya (feminine) characteristics are beautifully manifested in this ritual performance through cholom and prayer-singing.

This tradition of singing has been religiously practised and guarded since then. A part of Manipuri Hindu lifestyle, there are many exponents and gurus and they are respectably called Oja. Leimapokpam Lakpati is one such Oja. He learned the music from his father Herachandra first and hence his adi guru. Thereafter, he attended the schools of various gurus like Laishram Tolpishak, Khangembam Gulapi, Thangjam Chaoba, and Y. Birahari etc., among others. Besides, he learnt Hindustani classical music from Phurailatpam Devkeshor Sharma, the principal of Government Music College, Imphal.

Born at Imphal on August 12, 1953, Oja Lakpati today is sixty three years young. He spent his childhood period for about ten years in a village called Elangkhangpokpi, near Kakching, 45 km south of Imphal. This gave him exposure to Meitei rural folk-song called Khunung-ishei. Afterwards, he returned to present home situated at Kwakeithel Nganapithong and married to Boro Devi. He slowly yet steadily got himself transformed into a popular ritual singer par excellence. By virtue of his sterling performance, he was continuously invited to perform at various ceremonies and functions like Luhongba, Shradha, Upanayana, Karnabedha, Khubak ishei, Nupa pala, Udukhon, Goura leela etc. He wrote books and attended many seminars also.

He also performed at many places outside Manipur like Cachar, Agartala, Guwahati, Kolkata, Nabadwip (West Bengal), Gujarat, Italy and Paris etc. He received Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, New Delhi in 2001; Sangeet Ratna citation from Manipuri Sahitya Parishad in 2002; Kala Ratna from KALASADAN, Mumbai in 2004; and Senior Fellowship in Manipuri Music (Nata Sankirtana) from Department of Culture, Ministry of HRD, GOI in 1998 etc., among others. Many of his programmes were aired through AIR and DDK in Imphal and Guwahati. He appeared in a Manipuri film also.

The ultimate devotion is ecstatic.

Since May, 2015, he has been a visiting guru of Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal, a constituent unit of Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi. He could not forget his gurus. To pay tribute to them – living and dead – Oja Lakpati has been organising guru kirtana ceremony every year, on full moon day of Manipuri month Mera Wayungba, in October, since the last seventeen years without fail.

The Oja is at present Director of Gulapi Nata Sankirtana Akademy, Imphal – an institute devoted to uphold the value and tradition of Manipuri Nata Sankirtana and to preserve guru-sishya parampara. Some of his popular students today are Laishram Itomcha, Meisnam Gouradas, Moirangthem Inaoton, Rajmohon, and Meinasing etc.

Had there been a ritual singer in Manipur who devoted his entire life to the cause of Nata Sankirtana, he could perhaps be none other than Leimapokpam Lakpati himself – a doyen of Manipuri culture.

Konjengbam Kameshore

(Courtesy: Eastern Panorama; Shillong, May, 2016)

PINEAPPLES OF MANIPUR

"Fruit that would have done credit to Covent Garden"

- Sir James Johnstone, British Political Agent, Manipur

Come summer – pineapples are everywhere in Manipur. Known as Kihom in Manipuri, Anarokh in Assamese, Ananas in Bengali; this juicy and succulent tropical fruit is one of the popular cash crops of Manipur. Grown mostly on the slopes of the foot-hills, the fruit is famous for its fleshy flavour and delicious taste. While the outer appearance looks spiky, the inner is fibrous and yellow in colour. Free from fat and cholesterol and rich in vitamin C, it’s well known for its anti-oxidant properties. A plant of the genus Ananas in the family Bromeliaceae, pineapple is eaten fresh, cooked, juiced or preserved etc.

The fruit is believed to have been originated in Brazil and Paraguay in South America. Afterwards, some Europeans, including Christopher Columbus, first discovered it in 1493 on the Caribbean Island of Guadeloupe. Back in Europe, members of European royal families liked it for its taste and tried to grow in hot houses. The rich, the elite, the noble, all had taken the fruit as a status symbol even.

The fruit starts expanding its growing base areas in many tropical regions. Today, the half of the total world produce is said to have concentrated in Southeast Asian countries.  Philippines top the production chart, while countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia are following closely.  In mainland India, the Portuguese had reportedly introduced it in 1548 AD.

A variety known as Yelhang Kihom

Unknown to the outside world, the fruit in fact has long been growing in Manipur since time immemorial. The local variety can be broadly divided into two types namely: 1) Meitei Kihom, and 2) Yelhang Kihom. The countryside at Ngariyan, Andro, Kaina, Thayong, and Waithou in Imphal East and Thoubal districts respectively are where Meitei Kihom – Queen type – is growing mostly. Khousabung, Bunglon, Ningthiching, Phunchongjang villages of Churachandpur district are nursery-beds of Yelhang Kihom – Kew variety. While the Q starts arriving in local markets from May onwards, the K follows from August to October. About the quality of local Kihom, Sir James Johnstone, the British political agent posted in Manipur (1877-1886), once wrote in his book, My Experiences in Manipur and the Naga Hills; “Here I have seen boat-loads of pineapples landed, fruit that would have done credit to Covent Garden”. 

It’s customary for Manipuri Hindu followers to offer this fruit to Lainingthou Sanamahi, the Meitei family deity, and Lord Jagannath, during the nine-day Rathajatra festival held in the month of July every year. While the Q is sweeter than K, the latter is bigger in size and juicier. The weight varies from one to three kg., while the price ranges from 10 to 25 INR. The fruit is mostly grown organically – without chemical fertilizer and pesticide. The poor farmers can’t afford the luxury of costly inputs and it’s a blessing for health conscious consumers. Moreover, farm-yard manure and compost are easily available. Elevated foot-hills where rain-water can be drained naturally are suitable for the plant. The soil and climatic condition here are conducive for the growth of the fruit. Pineapple leaves are used to extract fiber yarn also.

Meitei Kihom -- sweet and succulent

In the early eighties, Manipur Agriculture department produced and marketed pineapple juice, jam, and jelly under the brand names Magfruit and Heirang respectively. The products were found very popular and even exported to Russia. A fruit processing and cold storage Co-operative Society at Lamphelpat, Imphal, also once tried its best to market pineapple products. A couple of small time private enterprises are also working here.

To encourage marginal farmers, a State level “Pineapple Fair cum Youth Festival” popularly known as Kihom Mela, at Yairipok Thambalnu Keithel of Poiroukhongjin village, is held every year by Development Organisation Andro Kendra (DOAK). This non-descript Keithel is situated on the roadside leading to the Govindajee Temple of Kaina. The Temple was established by Manipur king Rajashri Bhagyachandra (1764 – 1789) and lies 29 km southeast of Imphal. A pilgrimage destination of Hindu faith and birth-place of famed Ras Leela, Kaina is known for its scenic landscape of lotus flower and surrounding hills. The area is literally full of pineapples. With unstinting support from local MLA, Shri Th. Shyamkumar Singh, this Mela includes a Pineapple Beauty Contest also. The students of Andro Assembly Constituency, who secured positions in their annual examinations of class X and XII, are being rewarded during the festival.

Manipur is tucked away in the northeastern  part of India situated between latitude 23⁰ 83^’ N to 25⁰ 68^’ N and longitude 93⁰ 03^’ E to 94⁰ 78^’ E covering an area of 22,327 sq km., surrounded by Myanmar on the east, Mizoram, Assam, and Nagaland on the south, west, and north respectively. The altitude ranges from 40 m at Jiribam to 2,994 m at Mt. Iso peak. The State has varying climatic areas ranging from sub-alpine mountaintop of Senapati district to hot and humid plain of Jiribam, bordering Cachar district of south Assam. With average annual rainfall of 1,467 mm, many fruits thrive in here. The orange of Tamenglong, the lemon of Kachai (Ukhrul), are other popular horticultural products of the State. Manipur pineapple, however, is reported to be suitable in humid areas, not above 1000 m from the mean sea level, with temperature 22⁰ – 32⁰ Celsius and rainfall around 100 – 150 cm.

Fruits of Manipur are wide and varied. The tasty, juicy, pineapple is organically grown, comparatively cheap, and affordable to all, unlike the ones available in far-off metropolis outside the State.

Konjengbam Kameshore