Stressing that Manipur’s future must be rooted in its indigenous wisdom, Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Leishemba Sanajaoba today asserted that the state needs to follow the footpath laid down by eminent writer Oinam Lukhoi, popularly known as Chana Lukhoi, particularly his deep and disciplined research on the Puya.
He said that the writer’s works are not merely creative expressions but a guiding roadmap for Manipur to reclaim its identity and strengthen its society through historical truth.
The MP made the remarks at Nungshkol Park in Chana Village, Imphal East, where a bust of the late writer, revered for his intense exploration of Manipuri history, theatre, and cinema rooted in cultural narratives, was unveiled at his birthplace.
The programme was organised by the Chana Lukhoi Art Centre, with Angom Ningthou Poireiton and former UNLF chairman RK Meghan attending as dignitaries.
During his address, Sanajaoba described Chana Lukhoi as a scholar who stood firmly on facts, laboured to reinterpret Manipur’s cultural truth, and used films, plays, and literature as tools to awaken people rather than merely entertain them.
If Manipur truly wishes to rise above confusion and cultural displacement, we must walk the same path, researching the Puya with honesty, clarity, and responsibility, he stated, urging scholars, youth, and institutions to treat indigenous research as a duty.
Earlier, the unveiling ceremony was marked by floral tributes and a public turnout that reflected the writer’s emotional connect with the community.
Members present recalled Lukhoi as a bold thinker who dared to question borrowed histories and as a mentor who believed that strengthening identity was essential to strengthening society.
