Raghu Leishangthem : Biodata of Manipuri Poet

Daniel Chabungbam *

Raghu Leishangthem : Manipuri Poet :: Pix - TSE

Raghu Leishangthem, a Manipuri poet and a children literature writer was born on 5th August, 1959 at Leishangthem, a small village in Thoubal district, Manipur. He is now settled at Thangmeiband Maisnam Leikai, Imphal West district.

His first work, Punshi Telanga was published in the 1991. He was awarded Sahitya Akademi Award 2009 for his anthology of Manipuri poems Hanubigi Eesing Pun. After serving in the Excise department of Government of Manipur, he retired in 2019 as a Deputy Superintendent of Excise.

Presently(*) he is working as President of Patriotic Writer's Forum Manipur, he is also members of many literally and cultural organizations like Naharol Sahitya Premee Samiti, Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Cultural Forum Manipur, Writer's Forum, Progressive Writers' Forum Manipur, North East Writer Forum and Art Society Manipur.

His works gas been translated and published in many language like Punjabi, Hindi, English, Bengali, Gujarati, Nepali, Marathi, etc. He is also a regular newspaper columnist, his works include a wide range of topics covering Art and Culture, Social problems and Literature.

He believes in making tomorrow pillars of the Nation stronger with positive thought through Inspirational and motivational stories and poems. He also believed in bringing 'Peace through Literature'.

Since his school days in 1970s he began writing. Earlier his poems were published in different papers and magazines like Matam Chephong, Aonba, etc. He was influence by the phrase 'Children are the pillars of Nation' in writing children literature. Apart from this, poems of modern pioneer, poets of Manipuri language also influence him too.

He published books includes

1. Punshi Telanga (Anthology of Manipuri Poems, 1991)
2. Lanbu Lei Oina Sannariba (Anthology of Manipuri Poems, 1995)
3. Nung Ashi Laini Lei Ashi Eeni (Anthology of Manipuri Poems, 1999)
4. Hanubigi Eeshing Pun (Anthology of Manipuri Poems, 2002)
5. Atithi Uchek (Children Stories, Manipuri, 2003)
6. Khunganggi Chithi (Anthology of Manipuri Poems, 2005)
7. Tenjei amasung Nga Mamit (Children's stories Manipuri, 2005)
8. Chingsang Napom Kapli (Anthology of Manipuri Poems, 2009)
9. Patpangi Thoibi (Children's Stories Manipuri, 2009)
10. Yenba Laba Khonglakle (Children's stories Manipuri, 2011)
11. Basanta Oigera Nakentha Oigera (Anthology of Manipuri Poems, 2011)
12. Khoriphaba (Novel, Manipuri, 2013)
13. Sheirenggi Khungang (Anthology of Manipuri Poems, 2014)

Awards and Honours:

1. Telem Abir Award 2005 by Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Imphal for the book Hanubigi Eeshing Pun
2. Naorem Kanhai Literary Award 2007 by Writer's Association Kakching for the book Khunganggi Chithi.
3. Yambem Mani Literary Award 2009 by Sahitya Seva Samiti Kakching for the book Chingsang Napom Kapli
4. Sahitya Akademi Award 2009 by Sahitya Akademi New Delhi for the book Khunganggi Chithi
5. Poetry Award 2010 (Honour Certificate) by Poetry Society India (North East) in collaboration with the celebration of 175 years of Assam Rifles
6. Chandrasakhi Award 2012 by Sahitya Seva Samiti Kakching for the contribution in poetry
7. Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2013 by Sahitya Akademi New Delhi for the book Patpangi Thoibi.

He also served as President of Patriotic Writer's Forum Manipur, Member of Manipur State Library Planning Board and a former General Secretary of Naharol Sahitya Parishad.

* End Notes : Renowned poet and writer of Manipur, Raghu Leishangthem passed away on September 10 2021 due to a personal illness. (He was 62 and survived by his wife, a son and two daughters.) Read news from TSE and PC here