While speaking on the occasion of the 11th Annual Conference of Dalit Sahitya Academy at Manipur Press Club yesterday, Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba had rightly pointed out and expressed his displeasure over the ‘Crab Culture’ among the Manipuri people.
These speeches of the descendent of Manipur Kings, now representative of the Rajya Sabha, need to be seriously taken note by each and every citizen of the state irrespective of which community they belongs too. And one more thing he rightly pointed out was that “we the people of Manipur never appreciate to any achievement of another person”.
This is exactly what is happening in the state. Whenever a VVIP visited that state it becomes an honour to present the paintings of RKCS. An aesthetic painting of Raas Leela along with bouquet was presented to Union Home Minister Amit Shah by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh while honouring him at Hapta Kangjeibung on Dec 27. A similar painting of Kangla gate was also presented to DoNER Minister Jitendra along with a bouquet by the deputy Chief Minister. Both the paintings are from the RKCS gallery. This is not the first time that paintings from the RKCS gallery are being presented to VVIPs visiting the state. To be precise, almost all VVIPs visiting the state as state guest certainly have Paintings of RKCS. Besides, High dignitaries Tourists including foreign diplomats and top Indian Army who visited Manipur never wanted to return back without visiting the RKSC Museum of Arts & Crafts (formerly known as RKCS Gallery) located at Keishamthong in Imphal.
The art of RKCS does not receive much recognition and honours in the state of Manipur even though almost at every important building of the State Government including Manipur State Assembly, Assembly Museum,State Museum, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Rajbhavan and many great public places outside the state like Manipur Bhavan at Delhi and Kolkatta have paintings of RKCS, presently run by proprietor name of RKCS, Chiratalaya,RK Budhimanta.
The then American President Bill Clinton sent a letter of appreciation to the proprietor of RKCS Museum of Arts & Crafts in recognition to his painting which he sent to him. Mother Teresa had shown great respect for the RKCS team and a portrait painted by RK Budhimanta and placed the painting of her at the entry of the Chapel which she headed before leaving for heavenly abode.
As per information, RKCS paintings have been spread across 50 or more countries across the globe.
Now, when Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba had stated that Manipuri people lack the spirit to appreciate once work is somewhat worth understand and people including the government should also honour the RKCS team and the person keeping alive the gallery at least by honouring him.