K Priyokumar bestowed with Heisnam Basantakumar Award
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, April 23 2018: Education, Labour & Employment Minister Thokchom Radheshyam today conferred the first Heisnam Basantakumar Award, 2018 to eminent writer Keisham Priyokumar, popularly known for his story 'Nongdi Tarakhidarae'.

The Heisnam Basantakumar Award-2018 presented in commemoration of the World Book Day Celebration carries a cash prize of Rs 10,000, a citation and a shawl.

The award ceremony was organised by Sahitya ThoupangLup.

Addressing the gathering, Radheshyam said that the conventional books have been the source of knowledge and passion implanting to the human to become a more dignified personality.

Speaking about the fate of the conventional books in comparison to the rise of eBooks, he said, 'Change is a phenomenon and the conventional books will remain relevant despite emergence of newer forms of reading technology.

He observed that the children need to be encouraged to read books besides their textbooks to expand their knowledge which should continue even after they get a job.

Reading habits need to instill amongst the children and make them write to learn to express themselves and develop reading habit because reading and writing are considered as the two faces of a coin.

Books are good friends which guide and shows us the right pathway to become humane, he added.

On the proposal to establish a separate publication division for the State under the Education Department, the Minister assured that he will look into the possibility on how it can be carried out with consultation with the Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation and the scholars.

On receiving the award Keisham Priyokumar said, 'I do not deserve the first ever award in the name of Heisnam Basantakumar because there are many more prominent writers in Manipur who have been in every sense a more deserving writer and language activist working and writing for the development of Manipuri language and literature' .

He expressed that to have lost Heisnam Basantakumar in such a young age of 40 is a great loss for the State especially in the field of literature as at a very young age he had already written a novel and collection of poetry.

If he had live longer there would have been more contributions in the field of literary work, he added.

Poems were also recited dedicating to the historic Khongjom Day observed today.

The function was attended by Retd Additional Director University & Higher Education, Aribam Kumar Sharma, Director IPR Heisnam Balkrisna Singh, renowned writers of Manipur and several invitees.

Comment