Elam Indira Devi (Padmashree Awardee in the field of Dance )
A Profile

Daniel Chabungbam *

Elam Indira Devi (Padmashree Awardee in the field of Dance )

Elam Indira Devi was born on September 01, 1954 at Khwai Nagamapal Singjubung Leirak, Imphal to Elam Bidhumani Singh and Elam ongbi Tourangbam ningol Rosomani Devi. She was married to Haobam Manigopal Singh at Lalambung Makhong Takhellambam Leikai, RIMS Road, Imphal in 1972. She have two daughters and three sons. She completed her BA from Guwahati University in 1979 and MA Manipuri in Culture & Literature) from Manipur University in 1988. In 1967 Indira completed Diploma in Nitya Charya from JN Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal. She also completed Post Graduate in Raas Dance and Post Graduate in Lai-haraoba Dance in 1979 and 1984 both from JN Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal.

She took her dance schooling from Dance College (now JN Manipur Dance Academy) She first started taking dance lesson from late Guru Lourembam Amuyaima Singh at her tender age of eight. She the took lessons from other Gurus like (L) RK. Akesana, Padmashree Maisnam Amubi Singh, (L) Thingbaijam Babu Singh, (L) Thiyam Tarunkumar Singh in her young age and (L) Guru R.K. Priyogopal Sana, (L) Smt W Yumshanbi Maibi, (L) W Thambalngou and (L) Ng Kumar Maibi and Haobam Nganbi Devi various eminent Gurus of JN Dance Academy. Since the very young age she received the Young Artist Scholarship in field of Manipur Classical Dance under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, New Delhi. (The first ever dancer in Manipur to received the scholarship in traditional category).

She goes ahead special in her performing field (film, Ballet, Dance Drama, Drama Classical, Solo Dance, Traditional form of Lai-Haraoba Dance and Creative Dance Composer Manipur Style of Dance etc. She have travelled throughout India and abroad for the cultural exchange programme sponsored by ICCR like France, Italy, German, USSR and Reunion Island etc.

She was an artist of ballet unit (now production unit JNMDA since 1976-1986), is serving as Senior Guru in JN Manipur Dance academy Manipur, Imphal since 1996. A lot of production show has been contributed by her in the field of Classical Dance and Traditional Lai-Haraoba Dance of Manipuri Style. She had got many awards of various organisation of state & National for her contribution for her dance.

With noble gesture to preserve the age old art, she founded the Meitei Traditional Dance Teaching School and Performing Centre in 1993. The institute have produced over 1000 students and many had earned their slot in classical, ballet and traditional dances.

Elam Indira Devi (Padmashree Awardee in the field of Dance )

Honour, Awards and Fellowship:

1. All Manipur Dance Festival on Classical Dance-1967-First Prize
2. All Manipur State Level Dance Competition-1968-First Prize
3. World Theatre Day Short Play Competition, Imphal-1970-Excellence Award
4. All Manipur Dance Festival (Folk Dance)-1970 First Prize
5. All India Short Play Competition, 1970-Merit Award
6. All India Drama Festival-1971-Best Actress Award
7. Recipient of Young Artist National Scholarship in the field of Manipuri classical Dance, Ministry of Culture, Government of India-1972-74
8. Recipient of National Award in First Manipuri Feature Film Matamgee Manipur-1974-75
9. Nrita Rani Upadhi by Cultural Dramatic Association, Moirang (Gold Medal)-1984
10. Special performance fro Classical Solo Dance, Recital received cash award, the recital was directed by RK. Priyogopalsana and staged at JNMDA, Imphal on 27th July 1989
11. Junior Fellowship from Department of Culture, New Delhi-1990-92
12. Recipient of Pandit Chandra Singh Gold Medal for Culture on publication of the 'Lai Haraoba Wakhallon Paring'-2002
13. Recipient of Honour fro Works & Contribution of Lai Haraoba Dance, organised by Huyel Lallong Thang-Ta, Irilbung on the occasion of Golden Jubilee Celebration-2008
14. Recipient of Honour, Works and Contribution of Lai Haraoba Dance organised by Umanglai Kanba Lup (UKAL)-2012

BOOKS PUBLISHED in relation with Culture

1. Lai Haraoba Wakhallon Paring (27 April 1997) and was awarded Gold Medal from Naharol Sahitya Premi Samiti, Imphal 2002
2. Meitei Jagoigi Chaorakpa Saktam (a glimpse of Manipuri Dance) 10th October 1998
3. Lai Haraoba Anoi Eeshei (2001)
4. Lai Haraoba Anoi Warol (2002)
5. Dances of Lai Haraoba (under publication)

Participation in allied Fields of Culture in State and National Level

1. Approved cultural talker on Manipur Dance both English and Manipuri version of All India Radio Imphal from 1989 till date
2. Panel Member of Audition for Doordarshan Kendra Guwahati from 1998-2000
3. Expert Committee member of Folk Dance, NEZCC during Republic Day celebration New Delhi (2000)
4. Honour as Life member of UNESCO Club Association of India since 2004 till date
5. Expert Jury Member of CCRT, New Delhi (1996-2007)
6. Appointed as member of EZCC, Kolkata from 2009-2012

Prominent Dance Performances of Solo Dance (State and National level)

1. Classical solo dance 'Festival of Classical Solo Dance' organised by Manipur State Kala Academy (1983)
2. Lok Utshab Festival (traditional Lai Haraoba solo dance), New Delhi (1985)
3. National Hook-up Programme for Great Master Programme of RK. Priyogopalsana sponsored by National Doordarshan, New Delhi (1988)
4. Presented Classical Solo Dance 'Krishna Pranayam' fro Doordarshan and NEZCC (1990)
5. Presented Manipuri Classical Solo Dance 'Rabindra Eeshei Nachom' in connection with 150th Birth Anniversary of Viswa Guru Rabindranath Tagore Commemoration under the sponsorship of NEZCC, Ministry of Culture (18-9-2011)
6. Presented Classical Solo Dance on 9th Bhagyachandra National Dance Festival of Classical Dance sponsored by NEZCC and Arts and Culture Department, Government of Manipur. (2011)
7. Lecture cum demonstration of Lai Haraoba, Phisarol Jagoi organised by ICCR, Shillong, NEZCC at JN Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal. (2012)

INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION

1. Presented Classical Solo Dance organised by Indo-Soviet Cultural Friendship, Moscow (1978)
2. Presented Traditional Dance 'Lai Haraoba' in India Festival at Paris (1985)
3. Delegate of USSR Folk Festival in Kolkata (1987)
4. Presented Lai Haraoba Classical and Dance at Re-Union Island, France sponsored by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) as panel artist. (2010)

Participation in DRAMA:

1. Role of Tharo in the play 'Chak-chao Mang Thao' of Theatre Centre, Imphal (1969)
2. Role of Shakhenbi in the play 'Shikari' of Theatre Centre Imphal in All India Short Play Competition (1970)
3. Role of Ishabel in the play 'Chingda Shatpi' of Rupmahal Theatre in All India Drama Festival (1971)
4. Role of Miss Dolly Rai in the play 'Shadashibagi Mang' of Manipur Dramatic Union (1970)
5. Role of Kundalei in the play 'Shatlammi Shi-ngel Ama' of Society Theatre (1970)
6. Main role in the play 'Mangal Ado' of GC Tongbra Society Theatre (1971)
7. Role of Natasha in the play 'Mother' (Maxim Gurkey) of GC Society Theatre production (1971)
8. Role of Mem Nupi in the play 'Bir Tikendrajit' of Rupmahal Theatre (1972)

Participation and Performances as dancer artist of production unit at JN Manipur Dance Academy (Dance Drama and Ballet)

1. Role of Thabaton in the National Award winning ballet 'Kabui Keioiba' directed by (late) RK. Priyogopalsana (1976-77)
2. Role of Khun-lakpi in the play 'Mangshat' directed by (late) Guru RK. Priyogopalsana (1977)
3. Role of Bitu in the play 'Nongdoleima' directed by (late) Th. Tarunkumar (1977)
4. Role of Maharani in 'Rajarshi Bhagyachandra directed by (late) RK. Priyogopalsana (1978)
5. Role of a Khunja Nupi in the dance drama 'Thoibi' jointly directed by Th. Suryamukhi and Th. Chaotombi (1978-79)
6. Sareek Makhol directed by (late) Th. Tarunkumar (1979)
7. Puinai-Puida directed by Th. Chaotombi (1980)
8. Role of Sachi Rani in 'Cheiteina Mahaprabhu directed by (1984)
9. Role of a Burmese and Khunja Nupi in the National Award winning ballet 'Keibul Lamjao' directed by Th. Chaotombi and Th. Suryamukhi (1987)

Elam Indira Devi (Padmashree Awardee in the field of Dance )

There are also a number of prominent achievements in the field of Dance and Music which was composed and Directed by Elam Indira Devi for the Meitei Traditional Dance Teaching School and Performing Centre which she established in 1993. The performing centre was establish as a private institution and was recognised by the Ministry of Art and Culture later on. She has composed a number of traditional Lai Haraoba dance and classical dances. Among which Thougal Jagoi, Phamdou Jagoi, kanglei Thokpa Jagoi, Panthoibi Jagoi, Chakpa Chakmang Jagoi, Phamyanlon Phisarol Jagoi, Yumsarol, Takhel Jagoi, Geet Govind (Partham Vag), Longkhon Jagoi, Chongkhong Jagoi, Phoukarol Jagoi, Basanta Raas classical dance, Tabu Sana Noiba Jagoi (Paphan Jagoi), Laiching Jagoi may be mention. Some of her renowned ballet included Senival Song (HIV), Malem (Earth), Meeoiba (Human Being) etc.

Apart from her dance presentations, Elam Indira Devi also presented papers on Seminars, Workshops, Conference, etc. She presented paper in the state level Seminar on Origin of Lai Haraoba (2010) organised by MDNA, Imphal; State level Seminar on Khunai Ashigi Saklon Takpada Jagoina Louriba Thoudang (2011) organised by ACOAM Lup Kangleipak; State level Seminar on Philosophy of Lai Haraoba (2011) organised by JN Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal; Seminar on Lai Haraoba Dance organised by Department of Dance, Manipur University; Seminar in connection with World Dance Day 'The Philosophy of Lai Haraoba Dance' organised by Manipur University, Department of Dance. During the year 2001 to 2012, Indira Devi worked as a regular guest lecturer cum demonstrator of Academic Staff College Manipur University during the Orientation and Refresher Course programme of UGC.

Moreover, she believes that through Dance and Song can bring peace and harmony. "Imparting training in dances in the form of regular exercise in order to bring up children through acquiring of profound knowledge in our cultural and traditional dances with the moulding of their character, discipline and maintaining their physical fitness", said Indira.

See a full photo Gallery of Elam Indira Devi here