IMPHAL, September 30: Apunba Manipur Matam Ishei Kanglup (AMMIK) observed its 10th Foundation Day at Lamyanba Sanglen, Palace Compound today.
The function was attended by Thanga MLA Tongbram Mangibabu, AMMIK president Prof Dr Jodhachandra Sanasam, Yaiskul MLA Elangbam Chand, Chingai MLA MK Presho Shimaray as chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.
Lyricist Thangjam Kora Singh was honoured with AMMIK Lifetime Achievement Award. He was presented a traditional turban, a memento, a certificate and a cash award of Rs 20 thousand.
The “Best of AMMIK, 2012” awards were presented to five selected singers and three best lyricists were also awarded along with cash prizes.
A competition of the selected five singers for the “Best of AMMIK, 2012” was also held where again three best singers were selected and awarded with gold, silver and bronze medals alongwith with cash prizes of rupees ten, nine and five thousands to the first, second and third position holders respectively. The fourth and fifth places were awarded with cash prizes of rupees one thousand each.
Addressing the function as the chief guest, T Mangibabu said that even though many new singers has evolved with the changing time but the original form of our traditional music needs to be promoted. Music is one of the most valuable form of art among the 64 arts.
There is a saying that Rabindranath Tagore singing the song “Bande Mataram” by Bankim Chandra has helped India won her freedom one day ahead, he said.
“Let us also pay our respect to these ‘lyricists’ as we pay respect to the poets,” he asserted.
Mk Presho Shimray, who attended the function as the guest of honour, expressed his desire to jointly make efforts to preserve the music of hill people of the state too. He said there is no written history of the hill people of the state but their music shows their roots and identity.