INTERNATIONALLY acclaimed dramatist and protagonist of ‘Theatre of the Earth’ Heisnam Kanhailal died on October 6 in his famous drama institute Kalakshetra in the outskirts of Imphal, Manipur. He was 75 and had been suffering from cancer. He was a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). He is survived by his wife Heisnam Sabitri and son Tomba. Kanhailal was born on January 17, 1941 into a poor family at Keisamthong Thangajam, Leirak, Imphal. His father H Pishak Singh was a follower of legendary Communist leader Hizam Irabat Singh.