President of India to honour guru Ph Iboton
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Mangolchand Chingakham

Imphal, June 06 2011: Phanjoubam Iboton Singh of Keishamthong Longjam Leirak, Imphal is one of the 38 Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardees, 2010 elected by the general council of Sangeet Natak Akademi, the national academy for music, dance and drama at New Delhi at its meeting held on 19 January 2011 .

The general council of Sangeet Natak Akademi also elected two eminent personalities in the field of performing arts as Sangeet Natak Akademi fellows (Akademi Ratna) .

Sangeet Natak Akademi awards (Akademi Puraskar) have been conferred to persons from the fields of music, dance, theatre and puppetry since 1952.The award carries a cash award of ' 1,00,000 besides a Tamrapatra (citation) and Angavastram (shawl).

Iboton, Principal, Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal will be honoured with this prestigious award in August 2011.He is one of nine persons to be awarded in the field of dance.

Phanjoubam Iboton was born on December 31, 1951 at Durgabol, Cachar, Assam.

He is the 4th son of five siblings of his parents Late Ph Churamani and Late Ph (O) Ruhini of Durgabol.

He is presently residing at Keishamthong Longjam Leirak, Imphal with his wife Malati, three sons, one daughter, two daughters-in-law and two grandsons.

At the age of 10, he started learning Pung from Late Meitram Lalbabu of Durgabol and then from Meitram Mangol of the same locality for about seven years.

At 17, he came to Imphal and learned Pung from Late Soram Budha and Late Sanasam Yaima of Imphal.

In 1970, he started doing a 3 year diploma course in Manipuri Dance (Ras) in the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy.

He completed his diploma in 1973 and pursued a 2 year post graduate course in the same subject.

Late Khaidem Lokeshwar, Late Gurumayum Ibopishak Sharma and Late RK Sanayaima of Imphal taught him Manipuri Dance.

He passed his post graduate course in 1st class.

From 1975 to 1984, he worked as an eminent artiste of ballet.

He acted in 'Kabui Keioiba' as one of the seven brothers of Thabaton, 'Mangsat', 'Nongdol Leima', Rajshri Bheigyachandra', 'Sarik Makhol', 'Nongpok Panthoibi', 'Puinao Puita', 'Thoibi', 'Geet Govinda', 'Sanarembi' and 'Shree Cheitanya Mahaprabhu' .

Among these ballets his role of Nongban in the ballet 'Thoibi' written by MK Binodini was highly appreciated by the people .

In 1984, he was appointed as teacher in Manipuri Dance (Ras) Department in JNMDA and later promoted to Guru and then to Guru Selection Grade.

Since then he has been working in the academy and currently holds the post of principal of the academy.

He has been working as assistant Rasdhari of Shri Govindajee Temple Board, Imphal since October 2001.He was also a teachers' representative, Member of Advisory Committee, JNMDA Imphal from 2004 to 2008.He completed a Post Graduate Diploma course in Pung in 1st class in 1992.He is also a B grade Pung artiste of All India Radio, Imphal since 1993.To display his talent in the field of arts, he has visited countries like China, South Korea, Greece, Africa, Spain, France, Italy and Germany.

He has been honoured numerous times recognizing his talents.

He was awarded Manipur State Kala Akademi Scholarship from 1974-75 in Manipuri Dance, Manipur State Kala Akademi Award from 1997-1998 in Manipuris Dance (Ras), Natya and Nritya Sangeet, Manipur Sahitya Parishad Gold Medal for the year 2001, Junior Fellow (Dance Ras)by Ministry of Human Resource, Department of Culture, New Delhi for a period of two years from October 1, 1997, Nritya Bhusan in Dance for the year 2006 by Manipur Sahitya Parishad, Assam and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, 2010 .

In an exclusive meeting with Hueiyen Lanpao at his residence, Iboton admitted that he was extremely happy when he came to know about the announcement that he was elected for SNAA, 2010.He also asserted that he wants to give credit for his success to his parents and all the teachers who taught him.

"In my field if one is dedicated, well disciplined and hard working then success is for sure", he added.

He said he will work till his last breath and will serve the people with sincerity.

The conferment of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award comes as a crowning tribute to this eminent artiste.

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