Tapta performs at a concert in Imphal. Telegraph picture

Imphal, Dec. 7: His songs have made headlines. They have been discussed in national seminars and workshops and now, Manipur’s firebrand singer Tapta is all set to release his band’s next album protesting against economic blockades, which have become quite frequent in his home state, Manipur.

Come December 14, Tapta will set the stage on fire at Bheigyachandra Open Air Theatre here during a concert following the official release of the album — Mee Manukhang (evil man).

The album, having 15 songs, is a protest against the recent 120-day blockade imposed along Manipur’s supply lines, inaction by ministers and exploitation of poor people by business sharks during the blockade.

“I want to protest against the way common people suffered because of the blockade. This is the main theme of my album and the concert,” said the band’s lead singer, Loukrakpam Jayenta, better known as Tapta. While one song in the album lambasts all those sponsoring blockades, another warns those who amassed wealth by taking advantage of the blockade that starving people could attack them.

Tapta is also known as the “voice of protest” as his songs carry socio-political messages. His songs protest against corrupt practices by politicians along with social evils like alcoholism and drug abuse.

Though some of his songs are romantic, a majority of the over 400 songs scream against injustice. While one of his songs highlights the misuse of mobile phones, another strongly condemns prostitution and extra-marital affairs.

“My upcoming album and the concert should not be seen as a commercial venture. My purpose is to protest against the four-month-long economic blockade and the inaction of the authorities, resulting in untold suffering for the people,” Tapta said.

The economic blockade imposed by Sadar Hills District Demand Committee demanding creation of Sadar Hills district from July 31 midnight and then another by the United Naga Council protesting against inclusion of Naga villages in the proposed district since August 21 along Imphal-Dimapur and Imphal-Jiribam highways put the 27 lakh people of the state through a nightmarish experience, in face of the unprecedented price rise and non-availability of commodities.

“Even after the blockade was lifted on November 29, some groups called a bandh to boycott the visit by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi on December 3. I want to put an end to all forms of bandhs and blockades,” the singer, who hails from Moirang in Bishnupur district, said.

He added that he had to shift from cooking gas to traditional firewood and had to buy petrol at Rs 180 per litre during the blockade.

Perhaps he is the only Manipuri singer whose songs were discussed by academics of Manipur University, which organised a discussion on his songs a few years back. During the discussion, social anthropologist M.C. Arun said Tapta’s early songs portrayed the feelings of the people in a conflict situation but of late, his songs had became sermonic.

His songs were also discussed during a three-day workshop — Texts and Textualities: Comparative Perspectives — organised by Centre for Comparative Literature in January 2008 at Hyderabad University.

Tapta, however, said he was not against anyone. “I simply want to register my protest against the injustice done to common, hapless people like me,” he said.