Asem Bhakta, Special Correspondent North East
Imphal: Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA), a prestigious institution revered for its contributions to world-renowned Manipuri dance and music, finds itself embroiled in controversy. Allegations of fraudulent practices against its director-in-charge, Pukhrambam Bilash Singh, have cast a shadow over the academy, tarnishing its reputation and disturbing its sanctity.
Reports indicate that Bilash Singh has been involved in numerous malpractices, including falsifying his date of birth on three separate occasions, assuming his position without a proper appointment order, and self-appointing himself as the head of the production unit. These actions have significantly compromised the integrity and ethos of the Imphal-based premier dance academy.
Prominent artists and cultural bodies, seeking to restore the academy’s glory, have lodged formal complaints and submitted memoranda to relevant authorities, including the Governor, who chairs the academy. Investigations into Bilash’s conduct have corroborated these allegations.
Documents reveal that Bilash joined the academy as a junior dancer on a contract basis in December 2005 and ascended to the director-in-charge position in 2020 through underhanded methods. As Bilash seeks the appointment of a full-fledged director, scheduled for an imminent interview, numerous artists and enthusiasts have urged authorities to disqualify him, citing his scandalous history.
Y Bhumeshwar Singh, a Sangeet Natak Akademi (Yuva) awardee, has accused Bilash of disrespecting senior Gurus and teachers post his dubious appointment. Bilash’s conduct has included suspending a renowned Guru, his own mentor, for minor reasons—a decision later overturned by the intervention of Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi.
A glaring issue in Bilash’s conduct is his manipulation of birth records, with dates of 01/08/1970 (for a national badminton tournament), 01/08/1975 (Indian Passport), and 01/03/1982 (service records). This inconsistency was later rectified in his passport to match his service records, as highlighted in his new Passport dated 25.11.2022..
Another point of contention is Bilash’s admission, through an RTI reply, that he joined the academy in December 2005 without an appointment order. Critics argue that his continued leadership jeopardizes the academy’s dignity and the state’s cultural prestige.
A memorandum from Apunba Imagi Machasing (AIMS) to then-Governor La Ganshan on March 25, 2022, underscored the academy’s deterioration due to the absence of a regular director. It demanded the immediate appointment of a qualified interim director until a permanent one could be found.
Former Pradhan Guru and director-in-charge, the late S Thanil Singh, had previously warned the authorities about the academy’s decline following the retirement of director L Upendro Sharma. He described Bilash as unqualified and unsuitable for the director position, urging the continuation of Upendro’s tenure until a new director could be appointed to avert impending disaster.
In light of these revelations, Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, has recommended Bilash’s immediate removal and the appointment of an interim director in an enquiry conducted by him at the instance of the then Governor to safeguard the institution’s prestige and uphold the dignity of JNMDA.
