In a heartfelt tribute to legendary theatre artiste Manohar Singh, the Himachal Academy of Art, Culture and Languages organised a commemorative event on his birth anniversary at the Sanskriti Sadan Conference Hall, Kangni Dhar, in Mandi district yesterday. The event brought together prominent artistes, writers, theatre personalities and cultural scholars to celebrate the life and legacy of Manohar Singh — a towering figure in Indian theatre.
Dr Pankaj Lalit, Secretary of the Academy and Director of the Department of Language, Art and Culture, Himachal Pradesh, addressed the gathering, stating that Manohar Singh was not just a celebrated artiste of Himachal, but a source of inspiration for theatre practitioners across India. He announced that the state government would soon engage in serious discussions to launch new initiatives to promote artists and literary figures. He also urged fellow artistes and cultural practitioners to contribute actively toward increasing public engagement with such cultural programmes.
Dr Lalit emphasised that enhancing audience participation is crucial for the growth of performing arts and requested the artiste community to devise creative strategies to draw greater public interest in such events.
The event began with welcoming remarks by Dr Shyam Verma, Assistant Secretary of Academy, who highlighted the intent and purpose behind the celebration.
Suresh Sharma, former Director of the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi, presented a detailed paper on the life, personality and contributions of Manohar Singh, elaborating on his commitment to theatre and the maturity he brought to Indian stagecraft.
The chief guest of the event, Shreekant Srinivas Joshi, a renowned writer, artiste, columnist and retired IAS officer, shared his personal memories and interactions with Manohar Singh. He described Singh as a true embodiment of dedication and excellence in the theatrical arts, praising his pivotal role in elevating Himachal’s name on the cultural map.
Guest of honour Dr Rekha Vashisth noted that those associated with theatre often endure significant struggles and emphasised the importance of unity and collaboration among theatre practitioners to ensure the growth and sustainability of the art form.
Veteran theatre artiste and director Sanjay Sood recalled his moments with Manohar Singh and appealed to artistes and institutions to preserve documents, audio-visuals and archives related to Singh’s work for future generations.
