User:Alka Jajoo

AMTTA

All Maharashtra Thang-Ta Association

All Maharashtra Thang-Ta Association as known as AMTTA is recognized and affiliated by Thang-Ta Federation of India TIFI, Indian Olympic Association IOA, and School Game Federation of India SGFI. It’s a state level body constituted and registered under Societies Registration Act, 21 of 1860 and PT act, 29 of 1950. The head office of AMTTA is in Amravati, Maharashtra and established in 1993 on 24th November. 31 out Of 35 districts in the state are affiliated to AMTTA. The aim of AMTTA is to promote the indigenous martial Art Thang-Ta as a form of sport for all age groups with special emphasis on training girls for self- defence. Maharashtra is a state that welcomes and accepts cosmopolitan culture with open heart and arms. Thang-Ta is accepted and learnt by people of all age groups specially school chi.ldren and college youth. Thang-Ta is an ancient Martial art form originated in the North Eastern Valley State of India Manipur. It is one of the two components of Huyen Lanlong Martial art, the other being Sarit Sarak which is unarmed form. Thang-Ta is armed form where Thang means sword and Ta means a spear. Though this art was initially developed as a safeguarding system in times of war during the geopolitical conflict between Manipur and neighbouring tribes and clans, as also India –China wars, gradually it took an inseparable place in culture and customs of the state and became part of day-to-day life. This art has a milder form as dance, spiritual form that guides way of living and afterlife having deep value system among the ethnic Meitei Community and the most widely practiced vigorous form as a combat art and sport. As a battle art weapons like sword, spear, bow, cheibi, shield and axe were used and continue to be used in competitive demonstrative and combat forms of Thang-Ta. The spectacular demonstrations of Thang-Ta are same as of actual fighting practices. In earlier time sit was performed as war dance symbolizing protection.

Thang-Ta faced a long term disappearance from the mainstream sports and arts after possession of weapons was prohibited in India during centuries of foreign rulers.

Many other arts and sports were lost during these times. it was only after independence when Thang-Ta was revived by painstaking efforts of dedicated and eminent masters like late Shri R. K. Sanihal.

And it is not long before when Thang-Ta was re identified, revived and promoted as a sport all over the country. Thus spread of this rare and a powerful martial art from Manipur to other states including Maharashtra was possible. Now it is a part of school ganes and competitions are held at school, district, state, national and Olympic levels. The game was preserved and advanced by Grand masters like Shri Premkumar Meitei in Manipur. Master Premkumar Meitei was keen to spread the art of Thang Ta globally and expressed his wish to his master Shri Sanihal, to which his guru agrred. Thence Academies and federations were established at National and State level. District level Thang-Ta clubs hav been initiated by AMTTA since 2019. The persistence and hardwork of AMTTA pioneer Shri M.K. Dhuldhar, Thang-Ta practictioners, masters and Ttrainers resulted into being a part of Khelo India Movement and also gained many other recognitions.

Many training programs have been conducted by AMTTA all over Maharashtra with special emphasis on trading self defense to girls and women.

On 12th December 2012 a total of 12000 (twelve thousand) girls were trained in simple and everyday self defense tricks and stunts in Amravati. This huge programme was organized by Secretary Thang-Ta Master Mahavir Dhuldhar.

Recently more than 30000 (thirty thousand) college girls were trained over a stretch of 8 days. The programme was organized and conducted by AMTTA in association with Pawar Trust in Baramati and Pune districts covering many schools and colleges. Supriya tai Sule, Member of Parliament has shown a keen interest in this training program and tried some hands on stunts with Master Mahavir.