Lourembam Bino Devi :: Applique Artisan Profile
(Nominated for Padmashri Award)

Daniel Chabungbam *

Lourembam Bino Devi :: Artisan Profile

Profile of Applique Artisan Lourembam Bino Devi

Lourembam Bino Devi was born on 1st March 1944 at Singjamei Mathak Thokchom Leikai, Imphal West Manipur to (Late) Thokchom Mani Singh and (Late) Thokchom ongbi Ibemhal Devi. Married to (Late) Lourembam Kunjabihari Singh of Keishamthong, Imphal West, Manipur, she has one daughter and two sons.

She completed class IX from Tamphasana Girls' High School, Imphal, Manipur (now Tamphasana Girls' Higher Secondary School). At the tender age of 17, she has started work in Phiribi/Leeba (traditional applique art of Manipur) just after her marriage.

She received training in Phiribi/Leela (traditional Applique Art of Manipur) from 27th February 1971 to 27th February 1972 under master craftsmen (Late) Lourembam Ibetombi Devi, receipient of first National Awardee in handicraft (1969) her own mother-in-law.

Beside the various handicrafts, she has designed Monmai (pillow face), Ningkham Samjin, Luhon Phijil, Harao Phijil, Khudol Khongup and Kangkhal Asuba which are traditional items that are mandatory for Meitei marriage and the 'Lai Haraoba'.

She has designed the items with a novelty to suit the modern look. With noble gesture to preserved the age old art, she imparted training to the youngsters and even industry, Government of India. She was awarded to Master craftsmen 1996 and 'Silpa Bhusan' by Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, 2015.

For her work, the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India gave her stipend of Rs. 15,000 per year starting from 1996 to February 2014 and from March 2014 it increase to Rs. 24,000 per year till date. She have been described as an expert appliqué artisan in the book 'Khutheibalaktagi' written by Sanasam Biren Singh (2013).

Awards/Achievements:

(i) Awarded State Award for Master craftsmen 1996 by Commerce and Industries Department, Government of Manipur.
(ii) Winner (First Prize) in 46th All India handicrafts week celebration 2000-2001 at Imphal organized by Department of Commerce and Industries, Government of Manipur.
(iii) Restored the Flag of Maharaja Chandrakirti at Manipur Kulachandra Singh, Khuman Lampak, 2012.
(iv) Repaired two pairs of rare velvet shoes used by Maharaja Kulachandra Singh, (1890-91) for displaying at the Kangla Museum, Imphal, 2013.
(v) Awarded Silpa Bhusan by Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, 2015
(vi) Women Achievers Award 2015 organised by Mahila Morcha, BJP Manipur Pradesh

Training organized/offered:

(i) Imparted training in the one month long workshop on Applique Art of Manipur in 1995 to 30 participants
(ii) Craft demonstrated during Parichaya Prasanga from 20th to 26th October, 2001 organised by Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Southern Regional Centre at Mysore
(iii) Attended as resource person on Workshop cum Seminar on Textile Arts of Manipur organized by National Museum Institute, New Delhi in collaboration with Manipur State Museum, Imphal from 1st March to 3rd March 2008.
(iv) Attended as resource person on 'Manipurgi Sinnailonda – Leeba' (reviving appliqué art of Manipur – workshop and exhibition) from 17th to 26th October, 2012.
(v) She has conducted 6 months training program of Leeba (appliqué craft) commence on 9th May, 2013 organised by Commerce and Industries Department, Government of Manipur.
(vi) Demonstrated to National Institute of Design, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
(vii) Visited two times as resource person to Ketawn, Yumnam Leikai, Imphal

Workshop and Exhibition attended:

(i) Participated in Surajkund Mela organized by Surajkund Mela Authority from 1st to 15th February, 1999
(ii) Participated Crafts Bazar Chandigarh held at Circus Ground, Chandigarh from 23rd December 2000 to 1st January 2001 organised by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
(iii) Participated Workshop on Crafts of Manipur organized by the Victoria Memorial Hall Kolkata and Manipur State Museum, Department of Art and Culture Manipur from October 21st to 25th, 2003 at the Manipur State Museum, Imphal.
(iv) Participated in the 3-day Workshop on Creativity of Manipuri Women Artisans organized by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi and Manipur Film Development Corporation Limited Imphal held at Nupee Lal Memorial Auditorium, Imphal from 30th March to 1st April, 2008.
(v) Participated 3-day SACH Festival of Arts & Crafts organized by SACH at SACH complex, Khongman Zone-3 East, Imphal East Manipur from 20th to 22nd January, 2010.
(vi) Participated 3-day SACH Festival of Arts & Crafts organized by SACH at SACH complex, Khongman Zone-3 East, Imphal East Manipur from 4th to 6th February, 2014.
(vii) Participated in the Indigenous Embroidery Arts of Manipur – Workshop, Symposium & Exhibition, organized by the Department of Art & Culture, Government of Manipur and the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata from 11th to 15th March, 2014 at the Artiste's Workshop cum Dormitory, Conference Hall, Palace Compound, Imphal.
(viii) Participated in the '5 Day Workshop & Exhibition on Indigenous Embroidery Art of Manipur' organized by Manipur State Kala Academy, Imphal and The Asiatic Society, Kolkata held from 18th to 22nd March 2014 at the Artiste Dormitory, Palace Compound, Imphal.
(ix) Participated as a resource person of 2 months long Manipur Applique Workshop Central Jail for women inmate organized by Manipur State Commission for Women in June 2017.

She also participated on two radio talk on All India Radio (AIR) Imphal and Doordarshan Kendra (DDK) Imphal on Applique Art of Manipur.

See photos listing awards won by Lourembam Bino Devi here