Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 11:
On the second day of the 73rd annual meeting of the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad being held in the auditorium of the JN Manipur Dance Academy, writers and poets who have been confer red different literary awards and medals for this year by the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad were felicitated today.
Today's function was graced by Lok Sabha MP Dr Th Meinya as chief guest, MLA Tongbram Mangibabu as guest of honour and president of the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad B Jayantakumar as functional president.
Speaking on the occasion, Meinya assured a certain substantial amount of money from his MP Area Development Fund for building an office of the Parishad.
He asked the Parishad to furnish a detail blue-print of the office building so that funds can be sanctioned for the MP fund.
Observing that the annual plan allocation of the State Government for Art and Culture does not commensurate to the needs of the time, Meinya asserted that there is a need to revise the plan allocation.
Mangibabu noted that very few intellectuals study literary products of the State.
For this year, 13 different poets, writers and authors were honoured with different awards.
The awardees are Laitonjam Nilamani (Sahitya Bushan), Yengkhom Bihari (Kabya Bushan), Durgabihari (Sahitya Sevak), Khulem Chandrasekhar (Gabeshana Bushan), Thokchom Manimacha (Sangeet Ratna), Aheibam Budhachandra (Sangeet Bushan), Yumnam Gouramani (Sangeet Bushan), Yumnam Jatra (Natya Bushan), Laimayum Ibotombi (Natya Bushan), Thokchom Girani (Badya Bushan) Gurumayum Gourakishore (Kala Ratna) and Chabungbam Kondum (Kala Bushan).
Thongram Sanatomba won the Heisnam Ashangbi Gold Medal.
Others who have been awarded cash prizes include Yumnam Rajendra (Dr Kamal Memorial Cash Award), Rajkumar Bhubansana (Ashangbam Minaketan Memorial Award) and Moirangthem Borkanya (Telem Abir Memorial Award).