IMPHAL April 23: With an objective to save Loktak Lake, Ranbir Thona along with popular singers of the state like Naba Volcano, Afao,Madhuri, Sori Senjam and a musical entourage of 32 strong contingent performed two musical concerts enthralling capacity crowds at Delhi and Bangalore very recently.
Detailing the cruxes of the tour to mediapersons at Hotel Imphal yesterday, Ranbir said that the musicians left for New Delhi on April 7. At the national capital, the concert took place on April 9 at Dassehra ground, Mukhrjee Nagar which started after a formal function attended by state tourism minister TN Haokip, Lok Sabha MP Dr T Meinya, MLA of Moirang M Prithiviraj and Arun Singh, proprietor of the Arun Enterprises.
A capacity crowd of 4000 plus mainly consisting of students from Manipur thronged the Dasshera ground and gyrated to the popular renditions from Ranbir, the songs based on the theme of “Save Loktak, Our Life” was warmly received by the crowd.
He stated that the message of saving the Loktak Lake has been highlighted in the concert and had felt satisfied at the response from the crowd. “ I feel that the musical campaign have been a success and the message has been felt”, he said.
The Bangalore chapter took place at ABC Ground, Viveknagar on April 16. Prior to the concert, the touring team had a meeting with representatives of Manipuri Meitei Association ,Bangalore (MMAB) and Bangalore Manipuri Students’ Association (BMSA) and with their help carried out a mass publicity campaign by distributing leaflets, wall posters, bill boards etc in various parts of the city.
T Shirts especially designed for the Bangalore chapter was launched by Mema Devi, advisor of Tamna Sanggai( A recording studio based at Imphal) and freely distributed to the concert goers.
The musical concert pulled in a record 3000 Manipuris for the first time compared with different events held by Manipuris at Bangalore in the past. Dr L Tondon Singh,president of MMAB and BJP ward president K Mohan attended as the presidium members at the starting function.
The tour was organized following an aspiration of late MK Binodini Devi to save the Loktak Lake and her desire for Ranbir to carry the message through the medium of music to other parts of the nation.
Ranbir announced that the “Save Loktak Campaign” for the North East states will commence from September 2011 onwards.
