Rare 1950s–70s photographic archives bring Manipur’s past to life at Imphal exhibition

Rare photographic records capturing Manipur’s cultural, social and ritual life from the 1950s to the 1970s have drawn significant public attention at a three-day exhibition organised by the Advanced Research Consortium Library and Archives (ARCLA) in Imphal West.

Titled “Temporalities and Notes from an Immersive Fieldwork: Photographic Archives of John Parratt,” the exhibition was inaugurated on February 1 at ARCLA’s premises in Singjamei Beigyabati Leikai. The exhibition showcases an extensive visual archive documenting Manipur’s historical and cultural landscape across several decades.

Speaking to the media, ARCLA Director Wangam Somorjit said the exhibition presents a rich collection of photographs and research materials gathered during decades of intensive fieldwork in Manipur by renowned scholar couple Dr. Saroj Nalini Arambam and Prof. John Parratt. The materials were formally donated to ARCLA in 2025 by Prof. Parratt, just seven months before his death on January 1, 2026.

“This exhibition is a tribute to the lifelong scholarly contributions of Prof. John Parratt and Dr. Saroj Nalini Arambam. The materials they donated will serve as invaluable resources for future research on Manipur’s cultural and historical heritage,” Somorjit said.

Prof. Parratt, who served as a professor at the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, was widely recognised for his extensive research on Manipuri history, religion, culture and traditions.

The exhibition features 98 photographs depicting various ethnic communities, one historical map, and 152 photographs of Pakhangba symbols drawn from the manuscript Paphal Lambuba. Most of the visual material dates back to the 1950s through the 1970s, offering visitors a rare glimpse into Manipur’s past.

Visitors, including students, scholars, academicians, writers and journalists, remarked that the exhibition evoked a strong sense of nostalgia, transporting them to a bygone era. According to ARCLA officials, the turnout has exceeded expectations, reflecting growing interest in archival heritage and visual history.

Somorjit noted that the exhibition, under its thematic framework, offers a rare visual narrative of Manipur’s ritual practices, cultural landscapes and historical memory. “Beyond their ethnographic importance, these photographs are deeply personal testimonies to the couple’s lifelong commitment to scholarship and documentation,” he said.

He further added that ARCLA is committed to preserving and making accessible the donated materials, emphasising that the collection not only safeguards visual histories but also encourages renewed scholarly engagement with Manipur’s indigenous knowledge systems, religious traditions and lived cultural practices for generations to come.