IMPHAL, June 16: The late Kaviratana Nongthombam Biren popularly known as SriBiren was on Saturday conferred with the Manipur State Award for Literature, 2011.
Education Minister Moirangthem Okendro, eminent writer and Sahitya Akademi awardee Kh Prakash and Minister of Social Welfare and Cooperation Kumari AK Miraibai attended the state literature award ceremony held at the Kangla Hall here as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.
Eminent writer Kh Prakash said this is the fourth time that the state literature award has been given and that the long cherished dream of all the writers in the state has come true and really encouraged by the state literature award given under the guidance of Chief Minister O Ibobi.
However, he sincerely made an appeal to the state education department to increase the 1 lakh cash award by 2 lakh from next year.
Education Minister M Okendro while addressing the gathering acknowledged the vast resources of Manipuri literature. The Bengali script used currently while writing Manipuri will be replaced by Meitei script after two decades from now, the minister remarked.
He also suggested to all the concerned to take up necessary steps to rewrite all the books, novels and poetry written in Bengali script to Meitei script. The minister further assured that the government will try to augment the Rs 1 lakh cash prize from next year.
Social Welfare Minister Ak Miraibai who was also speaking at the event noted that education is the foundation of everything.
At the event, this year’s state literature award was given to late Kaviratana Nongthombam Biren for his poem entitled “Chatloiko Ei Mapham Kadaidasu” (2010).
The award was handed over to his wife Nongthombam Karuna.The award carries Rs 1 lakh, a citation and a shawl.