Vice President India came calling to Manipur. Invites were sent out to Cultural and social icons, film makers, sportspersons for an interaction in which invitees were to self introduce themselves. Imagine a head of Govt on an Indian visit and asking such a thing #ColonialMindsets 
Celebrated film maker Aribam Syam Sharma didnt attend and said: I am now 86 yrs. How can I go to a function and say 'My name is Syam Sharma, I have made these many films, won these many awards. It is embarrassing to even consider. I am wondering how such a thing has come to be
Theatre doyen Ratan Thiyam responded with: 'This isn't a good thing at all. It makes you wonder what's happening. I am at a loss as to what to say in response to this. '
This isn't the first time: political masters have played this version of 'you are nothing and we are masters' game in Manipur. In 2016, then Governor of Manipur V Shanmuganathan a senior RSS and BJP leader asked intellectual and cultural icons of the state to define 'culture'
To secure an invite to a high tea with him at the Raj Bhawan. And yes, the definition was to be in 100 words. Aribam Syam Sharma responded with an Open letter google.com/amp/s/m.thewir…
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