Imphal, Aug. 16: Manipur governor V. Shanmuganathan's offer for coffee at the Raj Bhavan and a cash reward for those who describe culture best has evoked strong condemnations from cultural icons of the state.

While inaugurating the University of Culture and Manipur State Film and Television Institute here on Friday, the governor appealed to the gathering, which included several icons of Manipuri culture, to write the definition of culture in 100 words.

"You just write a letter to me. Just 100 words, one page. What is culture according to you? I will invite the selected people for coffee with governor in Raj Bhavan with a cash reward," Shanmuganathan told the audience. Thunderous applause greeted the governor's idea.

Among the audience was Aribam Syam Sharma, renowned filmmaker who won a Grand Prix award. And he took the lead in condemning the governor's statement.

Two days later, Syam Sharma posted an open letter to the governor on Facebook. "I shall not attempt an answer to your question here so I forfeit any claim to tea with Your Excellency. But I shall make an observation that I hope would be entertained by you," the filmmaker wrote.

Syam said: "This much I can say that in the culture of those assembled on that occasion (inauguration) asking such a question - fit for schoolchildren - to those who have dedicated their lifetime, who are living embodiment of culture, is considered as uncultured, in our culture. Perhaps, this is a case of culture shock."

"Your Excellency's playful challenge to those who assembled, amongst which were gurus of the arts and culture of Manipur, is considered as thaksi khasi naidaba, leibak macha tadaba (a rough translation is a person who doesn't show respect or has decency) in our culture. I would not attempt to translate these phrases in English because what is significant here would be lost in translation," the filmmaker wrote.

Another icon of Manipuri culture, who did not want to be quoted, told The Telegraph that his statement demonstrated that the governor has "zero knowledge of Manipuri culture and history".

This is the second time the governor caused "unhappiness" among people from the cultural sphere. The governor "angered" members of State Kala Akademi when he allegedly proposed to condole the demise of famed boxer Md Ali during this year's first meeting of the Akademi recently.

"We, of course, do condole cultural gurus of the country and Manipur. We politely refused the governor's proposal," a leading figure of Manipuri culture who attended the meeting said. The governor is the chairperson of the Akademi.

Sources said many other experts also expressed unhappiness over the governor's invitation for a definition of culture.