IMPHAL, March 9: The Manipur State Akademi Fellowship and Award, 2013 was held in a grand ceremony at Maharaja Chandrakriti Auditorium located at Palace Compound on March 8, a statement of the Secretary to the Chief Minister stated.
According the release of the Secretary, the award was presented by the Governor of Manipur, V. Sanmuganathan to 29 persons who are renowned in the field of Sankirti Sahitya.
The chief guest of the ceremony was the Chief Minister of Manipur, O. Ibobi Singh and the Fellow honurs were given to Poet, Laishram Samarendra Singh and Nat Sankirtan Guru, Takhelchangbam Nganba Sharma. The Akademi award was presented to 19 persons.
Of them three were presented for dance to, RK Thambalsana Devi, Ranjit Adhikarimayum and Konsam (o) Sanahanbi Devi. In the field of music, the award was presented to, L Singh (Nat Sankirtan), Laishram (o) Labango Leimai (Meitei Esei), Heisnam (o) Indi Devi in Theatre, S. Hemanta (Sumnag Lila), Phuritsabam Chandra Singh (Goura Lila), Moirangthem Mani Singh (Thang-Ta), Lala Singh (Wari Leeba), I Ibobi Singh (Arangpham), Golmei Sanajao Kabui and Yangnu Golmei (Tribal Culture), it said.
Awards in Sahitya were presented to L. Joychandra (Critical Work), Naorem Bidyasager Singh (Creative Work) and Aribam Kumar Sharma (Translation). For Fine Arts award was presented to S. Bubhaneshwar Singh and P. Premchandra Singh. The Akademi for Young Talent was presented to young artists, Yumlembam Gopi Devi (Dance), Mayanglambam Sobhamani Singh (Pung), Y. Nilchandra Singh (Sumang lila), Gurumayum Asharani (Thang-Ta), P. Ranibala Devi (Wari Leeba) and Th. Elimson Maram (Tribal Culture), it said.
In his address the Governor stated that despite the various cultural and traditional differences in the country, art and dance has brought the country together. He further said that the young artists of the state should be encouraged to follow in the steps of the elders in the field of art, it said.
The Chief Minister in his speech said that the worldly recognition of art and culture of Manipur is due to our forefathers and gurus and teachers. He also expressed that the government and the people everyone should join together achieve excellence, it said.