Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi
- State Kala and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee - Manipur Classical Dance

By Donny Meisnam Luwang *

Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi the renowned Manipur Classical dancer of Manipur is one of the six Manipuri Cultural Delegates who represented India and performed the rich Manipuri Cultural dance at Russia (formely known as U.S.S.R.), when India with the initiative of Russia organised a cultural programme in order to make the initial stage of friendship between the two countries when India was very young to have its independence. And her performances also made the people of Russia to have the glimpse of Manipuri dance more and even made them the curiosity to have explore more about the dance, which is consider one of the rich Indian Classical Dance.

Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi

Today, Thiyam Suryamukhi is around 70 years old, unmarried is still contributing and dedicating her arts and have commitment to sacrifice her life for the development and popularization of Manipuri classical dance.

Suryamukhi was born in the year around 1940 ( but she could recalled the exact year of her born) and brought up at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai, Imphal, Manipur. And by birth she show her interest in the field of dance and other forms of arts. And she believes that it is due to influence of her family members and parents who are all famous in field of arts and other theatre arts and when she joined the classical dance it was not new to her. Her father Late Thiyam Iboton was the then famous Pung ( Manipur Indigenous music instrument) Player and her mother Late Thiyam Ongbi Tombimacha was popularly known for making Manipuri traditional outfits. Suryamukhi the youngest among the three siblings ( one brother and two sisters) was predicted as the most decent girl among the siblings.

Being her sisters and aunts were all the personalities of Manipur theatre who were aclaimed by the audience, Suryamukhi was also influenced by such nature and which is the reason she became a famous dancer of Manipur. At very early stage of her life she joined the Aryan Theatre as Child Artist and it was initial point of her career in the field of Arts. She made her debut in Theatre by playing the role of "Modhuchandra" ( The daughter of Maharaj Bheigyachandra) and the play was written by famous Kabi Ratna Awardee Late Arambam Darendrajit.

Besides practising both singing and dancing, she also had her formal education since it was her parents wishes to complete her studies. However she was parted from father due to untimely demised when she was very small and her mother remain very weak due to her health condition and later died. But nobody interfere or foiled her in shaping up her career as artist infact the entire family members and relatives of her gave her encouragement and support in order to fulfill her desire. But recalling some of her obstacles period which she came across, was when she faced the challenges to overcome the discrimination of people towards a girl or woman, when they joined dance or any other theatrical arts during those days.

Suryamukhi who has participated in various dances organised in and outside the country had her first formal training of dancing from eminent Gurus Yambem Mahavir and Padmashree Late Meishnam Amubi at Pathsala ( School) situated at her colony itself. And also had education from school like Modhu Girl's School, Tamphasana Girl's High School and completed her 10th Standard as a bright student, later she went to Allahabad in Northern part of India to have her Intermediate studies, though she came back without completing it.

Thiyam Suryamukhi became the artist of Nirtya Ashram which was founded by Guru Yambem Mahavir and from 1952 she started performing her dancing talents in various states of the country. And being a famous artist of Nirtya Ashram she perfomed several dances like Raas Leela, Tribal Folk Dance, Lai-Haraoba and many more, not only this she also presented various solo , duet and group dance in the form of Valle. And it was her talents recognition that in 1954 when India was very young to get the independence Indian Government choose her among the six delegates of Manipur Cultural troops to represents India in Russia and performed the Classical Dance of Manipur.

The performance which she performed in Russia was her first assignments to performed abroad and she felt that she will never forget the journey apart from that the Indian government also appreciated the troupe of Manipur delegates for their outstanding performances. And she feels proud that she was among the first Manipuri to introduced the rich and heritage Manipuri cultural dance to people of Russia and also made to know and watch more about the dance and Manipur. Later, she performed in various countries like China, Japan and many other parts of South East Asia.

In 1985, Suryamukhi was honoured State Kala Akademi by the Government of Manipur in recognition of her contribution and dedication in the field of dancing form of arts and in 1999 she was given the prestigious Nirtya Bhusan Upadhi by Manipur Sahitya Parishad and in 2003 the Indian Government honoured her with Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and in 2009 she was also honoured with prestigious Guru Tarunkumar Saman.

Suryamukhi who had been in the service as a Production Assistant of Production Unit in Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, retired in the year 2006 and presently she is the Chief functionary of "Research Centre for Manipuri Art and Culture". And will be imparting various activities for the development of the Manipuri Dance and will be doing all her efforts to preserve its originality. Since, commenting about the present scenario of the changing trends she asserted that Manipuri Dance has been losing its original form due to influence of western culture.