New Delhi

Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba on Friday urged the government to award the Bharat Ratna posthumously to celebrated theatre maestro Ratan Thiyam.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, the MP described Thiyam as a towering cultural figure whose work brought international acclaim to Indian theatre.

He highlighted Thiyam’s influential productions such as Chakravyuha, Andha Yug, and Ritusamharam, noting that they showcased a unique fusion of traditional Manipuri art forms with contemporary theatre techniques.

Calling him a “multifaceted genius,” Leishemba said Thiyam excelled as a playwright, director, writer, and painter over a career spanning more than five decades.

Thiyam was also the first graduate from National School of Drama in Manipur. He later served as its director from 1979 to 1989 and as chairman between 2013 and 2017.

In 1976, he founded the Chorus Repertory Theatre, which went on to become a prominent centre for experimental and socially relevant theatre in India.

Over the years, Thiyam received several prestigious honours, including the Padma Shri, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship.

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Urging recognition at the highest level, the MP said that conferring the Bharat Ratna would serve as a fitting tribute to Thiyam’s immense contribution to Indian culture and his role in taking the country’s theatrical traditions to a global stage.