IMPHAL, May 2: A workshop on the traditional games of the Kom Tribe of Manipur was organised by the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalya in collaboration with the Kom Cultural Dance and Research Centre, Khoirentak Khuman at its community hall on Friday.
The director of the Tribal Museum and Research Centre, Y Gyaneshwar, asst Professor of DM College of Arts, Dr Manilei Serto and senior journalist Salam Rajesh attended the function as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.
In his key note address, museum associate of IGRMS, N Shakmacha Singh said “The workshop was made possible only because of the support of National Museum director KK Mishra. We should consider traditional games as a part of sports, wisdom and knowledge. We should innovate with these games and showcase it to other countries.”
“The state has introduced some games to the world which is being played all over the world.
The Kom tribe alone has 30 plus games which should be promoted in this workshop to preserve the indigenous game for generations,” he added.
Speaking as the guest of honour, senior journalist Salam Rajesh said that he has met all the tribes of the state but the Kom tribe of Khoirentak is the most unique in its culture and traditions.
“The Kom tribe in our state wear the same attire with different patterns”, he said, adding that in urban areas of Imphal, no indigenous games are played anymore but some indigenous games are still alive in the outlying rural areas.
He also mentioned the necessity of documenting the indigenous games and dresses along with the languages for the future generations.
In his speech as the chief guest, TMRC director Y Gyaneshwor said that people should thank S Achon Kom who is the secretary of KCDRC for his contribution in preserving the heritage of the Kom tribe.
Stating that the 33 tribes of the state recognised by the union government have their own customary laws and cultures which are quite similar, he gave the example of international boxer Mary Kom who belongs to the tribe and has achieved a lot in the field of boxing.
In her presidential speech, Dr Manilei Serto said she has fond memories of 25 years ago when Kom women in Khoirentak Khuman were struggling for the survival of, and to keep alive, the indigenous culture.
She said that she was amazed that the older Kom women still had the fight in them to keep their culture and tradition alive.
She pointed out that when she visited 42 villages for her post-doctoral research on the culture of the Kom tribe, she found a lot of differences between them, adding that in the past sports were played when a villager returned after hunting or during a big occasion in the village.
Meanwhile, Khorvon Lam, an indigenous dance of the Kom tribe revived by Guru Achon Kom was presented along with the Kangkap, an indigenous sport of the Kom tribe similar to Kang.