A shining star of Manipuri literature has fallen
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 19 2014 :
Noted Manipuri litterateur "Sahityaratna" Nongthombam Kunjamohan died of an illness at Shija Hospital and Research Institute, Langol at around 4.30 pm here today.
Kunjamohan was 78 years old.
He is survived by his wife, three sons and one daughter.
The last rites of the deceased litterateur were performed at Uripok Yambem Leikai here this evening.
Born on November 18, 1935 at Palarbond Village in Cachar district of Assam, Kunjamohan completed his masters in Economics from Gauhati University and worked as an Assistant Teacher at Aarl High School, Lakhipur.
In his later years, he settled in Manipur and served as the Principal of Thoubal College and CI College.
He also held the post of Secretary in Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BSEM) and Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur (COHSEM).
Kunjamohan was also the Secretary of Manipur State Education Commission.
Noted for his short-stories, Kunjamohan penned a number of books including 'Chenkhidraba Echel', 'Ilisha Amagi Mahao','Thawanmichak Amana Kenkhibada', 'Pairakkhidre Cheklado', and 'Eina Kenba' .
Some of the honours and awards conferred to him included the Sahitya Akademi Award (1974), Soviet and Nehru Award (1976), Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize (2004), Telem Indubala Prize (2004), Assam Manipuri Sahitya Parishad's Sahityaratna, Manipuri Sahitya Parishad's Dr Lamabam Kamal Kabi Ratna Memorial Cash Prize (2010), Manipuri Sahitya Parishad's Shrimat Paramhans Yogendranand Giri Memorial Cash Prize (2012) and Tagore Lecturer Award.
Kunjamohan was also recently conferred Sahityaratna by Manipuri Sahitya Parishad during its 79th foundation day.
Meanwhile, Sahitya Thougal Lup, Imphal deeply condoled the untimely demise of Nongthombam Kunjamohan, saying that a "shining star in the sky of Manipuri literature" has vanished all of a sudden.