Guwahati: The death of renowned theatre maestro Ratan Thiyam plunged the nation into mourning, with an outpouring of grief and tributes from political leaders, cultural figures, and theatre communities across India. Manipur governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and former chief minister N Biren Singh led the the tributes from Manipur, highlighting his significant contributions to India’s cultural landscape. In a statement, the Manipur govt said, “With profound grief and deep sorrow, we mourn the passing of Padma Shri recipient and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee Ratan Thiyam — a towering figure in Indian theatre and a cultural icon of Manipur. We join the artistic fraternity and the nation in remembering his extraordinary legacy.” The Manipur Raj Bhavan said on X, “The Governor stated that his invaluable contribution to Manipuri theatre and culture will always be remembered. Heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and admirers.“Singh, in a post on X, wrote, “It is with deep sorrow that I express my heartfelt condolences on the passing of Ratan Thiyam, a true luminary of Indian theatre and an esteemed son of Manipur. His unwavering dedication to his craft, his vision, and his love for Manipuri culture enriched not only the world of theatre but also our very identity. His work carried the soul of Manipur — echoing its stories, its struggles, and its beauty.“Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called him “a leading light of the Theatre of Roots movement,” saying, “Shri Ratan Thiyam dedicated his life to bring indigenous theatre and art practices to the global stage. A Padma awardee, his productions were rich in talent and messaging.” Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma said: “He was a visionary who redefined Indian theatre by blending contemporary form with the cultural soul of Manipur. His legacy will continue to inspire.”West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee mourned him as “a true legend who put Manipuri theatre on the global map” and said, “His unique blend of tradition and experiment enriched Indian performing arts immensely and resonated worldwide.” Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, also expressed his grief, saying, “Thiyam’s legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.”Renowned Kolkata-based theatre veterans like Rudra Prasad Sengupta and Kaushik Sen also paid tribute, recalling Thiyam’s frequent presence at theatre festivals in the city and his powerful influence on modern Indian theatre. Ratan Thiyam was a trailblazer of the “Theatre of Roots” movement, which synthesised Indian classical, folk, and tribal performance forms with contemporary theatrical expression. He founded the Chorus Repertory Theatre in Imphal in 1976, which became a national and international symbol of rooted yet experimental theatre.His groundbreaking works like Chakravyuha, Urubhangam, Uttar Priyadarshi, and Lengshonnei challenged the boundaries of traditional Indian theatre and brought the richness of Manipuri aesthetics, spirituality, and politics to the global stage. He was the recipient of many prestigious awards, including Padma Shri (1989) and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1987). He relinquished the Padma Shri in 2001 in protest against the Centre’s decision to extend the ceasefire with the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland.Ratan Thiyam’s passing is not only a great loss for Manipur, which he deeply loved and represented through his art, but also for the entire nation and the global theatre community. His relentless pursuit of truth, his seamless weaving of text and tradition, and his unmatched visual poetics have etched his name into the canon of world theatre.
