Guru Gurumayum Gourakishor Sharma
(PADMASHREE AWARDEE 2009)

By Donny Luwang *

Born on April 15, 1936 at Keirao Awang Leikai, Manipur, Shri Gurumayum Gourakishor Sharma is a distinguished Thang-Ta (Manipuri Martial Arts) Guru of Manipur. He had his training in the Art from his father late Gurumayum Sanajaoba Sharma.

Subsequently, he sat at the feet of various eminent gurus of Manipuri Martial Arts including Angom Leiren Singh, Hijam Ibohal Singh, Mutum Maipak Singh, Chanambam Birahari Singh, Lairenmayum Damu Singh, P. Tarango Singh, Toijam Birahari Singh, Pandit N. Khelchandra Singh, Rajkumar Sanahal, Th. Shambru and G. Sana Sharma, his brother.

Guru Gurumayum Gourakishor Sharma; Padmashree Awardee 2009

The family had a long tradition of martial arts and Guru Gourakishor imbibed the Manipuri martial art of Thang-Ta as easy as breathing. From his early childhood he showed great skills in the art and participated in festivals and tournaments.

Later on, he felt that his life was destined for the propagation of this art and with this realization he devoted his career tirelessly in its promotion. Opportunities fell at his feet one after another and he seized them for the survival of this art. He established a school on the vicinity of his home at Keirao and imparted training to the young boys and girls who were interested in preserving this art-form, besides his own practice in the field.

Ultimately, his efforts were recognized by the people and honours came to him at the mere stroke of his hand. Shri Bodhachandra Singh, the late Maharaj of Manipur honored him with the award of Gold Medal and traditional Manipuri Dress. In 1978, Manipur State Kala Akademi recognized his talents by bestowing Fellow on him.

In 1983 he became the first Manipuri to receive National Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in the field of Manipuri Martial Arts. Manipuri Sahitya Parishad also honoured him with the title of 'Kala Ratna' in 1985 for his outstanding contribution to the field.

He had been associated with cultural Organization of Manipur like Manipur State Kala Akademi, Department of Art and Culture, Government of Manipur and Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy as members of their Boards and Committees. He taught for sometime in the Department of Thang-ta at Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy. His activities spread far and wide. His students took part in several festivals in India and abroad. He took part in various seminars and conferences. Today, he is still active and is guiding many pupils.

Guru Gurumayum Gourakishor Sharma in Huiyen Lallong gear

Because of his dedication to the art, local and national institutions recognized his group the Huiyen Lallong Manipur Thang-Ta cultural Association, which was established in 1958, and today is one of the oldest schools in the study of Manipur's Martial Arts.

The Manipur State Kala Akademi as well as the national Sangeet Natak Akademi has recognized his schools since 1979 and the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Department of Culture, has been providing subsidies and by 1994 a Salary grant was offered to the school. His student broke through in the realm of national and international recognition since 1979, by accompanying the tour of South Africa by late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and participated in the festival of India at Paris in 1985.

Since then his students continued to show the arts at various international arenas like Seoul, Canada, Free Town, Dakar, Ajerbedjan, Tunisia, Butan, Burma, London, Egypt, Switzerland and various other cultural centres at Tucson, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle and Sedmona in USA etc.

One of the most proactive teachers of Manipuri Martial Arts, Gourakishor had published books on the indigenous tribes of Manipur like the Aimol, Maring and Chiru etc. He has written scripts for plays such as Govinda Nirupan, Chahi Taret Khuntakpa (Seven years of Devastation), Haokhong Shimaikhu etc.

He wrote papers and articles for various state and national level seminars too. And as a founder cum principal of the Huiyen Lallong Manipur Thang-Ta Association, Guru G Gourkishor Sharma continues to devote to the destiny of the school. He oversees building work for the hostel facilities etc.

He has lent his services to be member of the General Council of MSKA, Expert Committee member for Centre for Cultural Research and Training, New Delhi and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Government of India.

Guru G. Gourakishor Sharma was recently given the Padmashree Award 2009 for his contribution in the field of Martial Arts by the Government of India.

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* Donny Luwang is a young Manipuri writer / reporter based at Imphal. He writes for the first time to e-pao.net.
This article was webcasted at e-pao.net on 29th March 2009.

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