Rajkumar Singhajit Singh : Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony 2014
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Rajkumar Singhajit Singh : Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony 2014 by President of India Ram Nath Kovind on 18th February 2019 at New Delhi
TAGORE AWARD FOR CULTURAL HARMONY - 2014
Rajkumar Singhajit Singh was awarded Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony 2014 by President of India Ram Nath Kovind on 18th February 2019 at a ceremony held at New Delhi.
Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony was instituted by the Government from 2012 during the commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. It is awarded annually and carries an amount of One Crore rupees, a citation in a Scroll, a Plaque as well as an exquisite traditional handicraft or handloom item.
SHRI RAJKUMAR SINGHAJIT SINGH
Born at Imphal, Manipur on 3 November 1932, Shri Rajkumar Singhajit Singh is a highly accomplished and senior most guru, exponent, choreographer, prolific writer and scholar of Manipuri dance.
He was trained in the Guru Shishya Parampara under eminent Ojhas Padma Shri and Sangeet Natak Akedemi awardee Guru Maisnam Amubi Singh in Jagoi, Guru Thangjam Chaoba Singh in Cholom traditions.
He has not only preserved the chaste culture of Manipur but also expanded its horizon extensively. He has also trained under various Ojhas in the martial arts of Manipur which equipped him for his future role as a versatile and creative artiste.
He moved to Delhi teaching Manipuri dance at the Triveni Kala Sangam, a multi faceted art institution and leading its dance repertory.
In 1998, he established his own institution in the Capital, the Manipuri Nrityashram, where he continues to impart training in Manipuri dance. Several of his students have made a name for themselves at the national and international level.
His name is synonymous with the propagation of Manipuri dance both in and outside Manipur. His work as a performer and choreographer spanning over 60 years bears witness to his creativity within the framework of traditional Manipuri dance.
As a pioneer of Manipuri ballet, he broke new ground by presenting the first full length dance drama ‘Brabhruvahan’ in 1964 using all aspects of Manipuri performing arts as well as typical Manipuri music and costumes.
His choreography has been enriched by elements incorporated from various forms of performance of Manipur such as Thang-ta, Natasankirtana, Lai-haraoba and Rasleela. He choreographed the Manipuri dance segment of the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games 2010 at Delhi. He has performed around the world, participating in national and international festivals drawing great applause.
As a scholar and dancer, his lecture-performances have been a treat for educational institutions and universities both in India and abroad. His book on Manipuri dance and articles in various publications have remained highly valuable source of information all over the world.
In view of his contribution in the field of Manipuri dance, Government of India presented him Padma Shri in 1986 and Fellow of Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2011.
The Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony recognizes his contribution in keeping the tradition of Manipuri dance alive and vibrant, promoting harmony through dance and also pays tribute to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, who, deeply influenced by Manipuri dance, made it an integral part of the education curriculum at Visva Bharati.
* Daniel Chanbungbam provided this information for e-pao.net
This article was posted on February 19 2019.
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