Heramot, Ibobi receive awards from President
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Manipur Information Centre

New Delhi, July 14 2009: The President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil here today conferred the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Akademi Awards for 2008 at a solemn ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan here.

Speaking on the occasion, Pratibha Patil said, the traditional masters of performing arts must be helped and sustained.

President of India Smt Pratibha Devi Singh Patil handing over Sangeet Natak Academy Awards to Ningombam Ibobi glittering award presentation ceremony held in New Delhi on Tuesday

She called upon the Akademi to identify these masters, who today lived in meager conditions and extend them support.

She said, "They are the repositories of the Guru-Shishya Parampara, oral traditions and the various Gharanas � all unique to India and whose perpetuation is essential for keeping alive various aspects of the cultural legacy of our nation".

The President emphasized, "Dance, music and drama even have a social responsibility.

They can be powerful channels for creating awareness about social issues and portraying the values of tolerance and peaceful co-existence.

Art with its harmonizing influence and inspirational influence can be an instrument of bringing harmony in society and strengthening national unity.

All artists can contribute to the national integration process and to national progress as well as to eradicate social evils by creating awareness amongst the people through dance, drama, music and folk arts.

They can thus become the harbingers of social change".

This year the most coveted honour of Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna) was conferred on eminent personalities in the field of performing arts namely Smt Sitara Devi, eminent Kathak exponent from Mumbai, Shri Khaled Chowdhury, eminent stage designer from Kolkata, Shri R.C.Mehta, eminent scholar of performing arts from Vadodara and Shri Bhupen Hazarika, eminent personality in the field of performing arts and noted folk musician from Guwahati.

Thirty four practitioners of Music, Dance and Theatre for 33 awards including one joint award were given the Sangeet Akademi Award for the year 2008.Well-known Thang-Ta Guru Leitanthem Heramot Meitei and Nata Sankritana Pung Guru Ningombam Ibobi Singh were among the recipients of Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards 2008.Born in 1932 at Kongpal Chanam Leikai in Imphal, Heramot Meitei learnt Tang-Ta from Ojha Sagolsem Indramani, Ojha Moiranthem Anganghal and Thoudam Chaoba, a student of Paona Brajabasi , a hero of Anglo-Manipur war of 1891.He presented his first performance of Thang- Ta in 1948.In 1951, he established the Nongpok Naharol Seva Marup, an institution of Manipuri Martial Arts, since renamed as Kanglei Enat Thang-ta Shindam Sanglen.

Heramot authoured several books on Thang-Ta including Sarei- Sara (1978), Meehat-Meekal (1984), Thang-Ta (1986), Oinam Bijando (1993), Khurai Nanba (1998) and Akhunba Liklu Pareng (1994).A docu- feature on the life and works of Heramot, titled Thawai Meerel was produced by the Kanglei Enat Thang-Ta Shindam Sanglen.

He was honoured Manipur State Akademi Award in 1988 for his contribution in Thang-Ta.

Ningombam Ibobi Singh was born in 1920 at Khongman in Imphal and learnt playing of Pung for Nata Sankritana performances fromseveral teachers including his father N.Leirenjao, Naorem Dhojo, Kh.

Selungba, Ch.

Chaoba, Sangai Singh and L.Koireng.

A Post-Graduate Diploma holder in Pung playing for Nata sankritana from Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy in Imphal, N.Ibobi Singh was ranked among the outstanding Pung drummers for Manipuri Nata Sankritana.

He worked first at the Parimal Academy in Mumbai and subsequently at the Shree Govindaji Nartalaya in Imphal.

For his service to Manipuri culture; Ibobi Singh was honoured with Manipur State Kala Akademi Award in 2005 and Vadya Bhushan of the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad in 2001 .