Profile Of Sougaijam Thanil - Nata Sankirtana Artist

Daniel Chabungbam *

Sougaijam Thanil - Nata Sankirtana Artist

Name: Sougaijam Thanil Singh
Father's Name: (Late) Sougaijam Ksher Singh
Mother's Name: (Late) Sougaijam ongbi Ibemhal Devi
Present Address: Yaiskul Yumnam Leikai, Imphal
Date of birth: 1st February, 1946
Qualification: Diploma in Manipuri Dance
, Post Graduate Diploma in Nata Sankirtana (Pung) 1974 (both from Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal)
Career: Joined Jawaharlal Manipur Dance Academy as Guru (Pung) in 1976, promoted to Pradhan Guru in 1988, Director in-charge in 2005 and retired in January 2006.

Author and Publisher:
(1) Meitei Pung Rajmel Humphumari (1971)
(2) Khomjillaba Meitei Punglon Tanjao (1981)
(3) Punglon Rajmel Taranithoi (1986)
(4) Nata Sankirtan Raag Punglon (1999)
(5) Rash Humphumari Seishak (2007)

Award and Honour:
(1) Manipur State Kala Akademi Award (1980)
(2) Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, New Delhi (1994)
(3) Baida Bhushan, Manipuri Sahitya Parsihad, Imphal (1997)
(4) Padmashree (2004)
(5) Baidya Ratna, Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Imphal (2011)

Sougaijam Thanil - Nata Sankirtana Artist

In his childhood age, instead of concentrating on his academic career, Sougaijam Thanil used to stay nearby his father concentrating on making and beating of Pung. He also used to beat the Pung with his small fingers whenever he got chances. Realizing the enthusiast of his son, Thanil's father began teaching him how to beat the Pung. Yes, the real guru of Thanil is his father Ksher Singh. Sougaijam Thanil use to accompany his father and learn more about Pung and later at the young age of 6/7 Thanil could perform beating drum for Goura Leela plays.

At this juncture in the south eastern valley of Manipur prominent Pung performers like Tombi Sharma of Kakching Wairi, Dhaka of Kakching Khullen and Birchandra from Heirok are popular. Thanil Singh was handed over to Tombi Sharma by his father Ksher Singh to learn further about Pung. Later, shifting his base to Imphal, Sougaijam Thanil comes to Ngangbam Yaima at Singjamei Chingamathak. Then, Thanil bought a piece of land at Chingamakhong when he attain the age of 21. By staying there he further learn Pung from M. Bhagyachandra Singh, Koireng Singh, Partho Singh and Gulap Singh. During these days, he got married with Kumudini from Haobam Marak Lourembam Leikai and later on shifted to Yaiskul Yumnam Leikai where he is presently staying.

After his married life, he kept on focusing on the punglon of Rajmel 64 which he is eager to know. He visited gurus like Amubi, Lashmon from Tera, Rajbihari from Yaiskul, Madhumangol but could not find what is Rajmel 64. But at last with the help from this Gurus he could find Punglon of Rajmel 64 even as there is some controversy. He also wrote a book on Rajmel 64 under the title 'Meitei Punglon Rajmel Humphumari'.

To fulfill his childhood passion for Manipuri Dance and Nata Sankirtana, Sougaijam Thanil completed Diploma course in Manipuri Dance and afterwards Post Graduate Diploma in Nata Sankirtana (Pung) in the year 1974 from the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal. He was appointed as a Guru in Pung at Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy in 1976, promoted to Pradhan Guru in 1998, Director in-charge in 2005 and retired as officiating Director in 2006 imparting the knowledge to the young talents.

Sougaijam Thanil is one of the pioneers who display the beauty of Nata Sankirtana (Pung Cholom and Kartal Cholom) to the rest of the world. Since 1964 he has been participating in several important cultural festivals held in different parts of the country giving solo and group performances and also foreign countries like Iran, Iraq, Switzerland, Germany, France, USSR, Italy, Bangladesh, China, etc. He had participated as a Nata Sankirtana (Pung) artist and Rasdhari held in France (1985) in the prestigious Festival of India and also in the 2nd Asian Art Festival in China in 2002.

As a Choreographer, Sougaijam Thanil had choreographed Pung Cholom and Dhol Cholom at the opening ceremony of Asian (1982), SAARC Drumming Festival at Sri Lanka (August 1996), 50th Independence Day Celebration of India at South Africa, Zambia (August 1997), Association Art at Monopoli, Festival of India (1998), Cheiri Festival at Italy (1988), World Expo '98 at Hungary, Denmark, Portugal and Italy, Memphis in May Festival at USA (May 2000), Silver jubilee of Hyderabad Central University (2000), Thunchan Festival at Tirur (2000), 5th International Folk Dance Festival at China (October 2001), 1st Afro Asian Games 2003 (Hyderabad) and Houston Festival at USA (April 2005).

Sougaijam Thanil Singh has also worked as a director and composer too. He had directed and composed the dance drama 'Leichal' (2000), Phool Yudh (2001), produced by the production unit of JN Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal and he had also directed Solo Dance 'Geet Govinda' in the Festival of Young Artists 2002 at Imphal and choreographed for the Festival of Manipuri Dance in Bengaluru on January 10-11, 2006 organised by Sangeet Natak Akedemi, New Delhi and Natya Institute of Kathak, Bengaluru for the items of Lai Haraoba, Dhol Cholom, Martial Arts, Pung Cholom and Vasanta Raas.

At the national and state level, Sougaijam Thanil Singh had presented seminar paper on 'Meihourol' the origin of Classical Manipuri Dance (1999) at Kolkata organized by West Bengal State Academy of Music and Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. He also presented seminar paper on 'The Tal System of Manipur Sankirtana Pung' in the Brahdesi Festival of Regional Music, North Eastern Region at Guwahati (2002). He delivered lectures based on the 'Origin of Pung and its movement' in the 3rd Annual function of Nimita Devi Natya Ashram on 2nd August 2010 at Imphal and he also lectured in the Annual function and Lalsa Prathana Phangnaba on 15th September 2009 and 12th September 2010 organised by Nata Sangeet Academy and Research Centre, Imphal.

In the field of research works relating to Manipuri Nata Sankirtana, Sougaijam Thanil had done extensive works and guided more than 36 research scholars for the Junior and Senior Fellowship sponsored by Ministry of Human Resources, Government of India and also co-guided two PhD degree holders under Manipur University and received fellowship from the Ministry of Human Resources, Government of India and the state government for the research projects in Nata Sankirtana (Pung).

Sougaijam Thanil - Nata Sankirtana Artist

To promote the Nata Sankirtana, Sougaijam Thanil Singh had rendered his service to various governmental organizations and educational institutions. He had been with Manipur State Kala Akademi as an Executive Member for fifteen years and member of Selection board, JN Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal and one of the Jury member for the selection of artist under the scheme recognition to 'Young Talented Artist' for the year 2008-09.He is a member of Prashar Bharati Audition Board, New Delhi, member Audition Board, AIR Imphal. Member, Advisory Committee for Dance of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi (2009-14), Member, Academic Committee for JN Manipur Dance Academy (2010-2015).

He is a subject expert and external examiner for Manipuri Dance at Sangeet Bhawan, Viswa Bharti University, Santiniketan, West Bengal and external examiner for Manipuri Dance at Manipuri Dance department, Manipur University, Imphal and member expert committee for Diploma Programme in Manipur Nata Sankirtana for Indira Gandhi National Open University, Imphal Regional centre.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi felicitated Sougaijam Thanil on the occasion of Brahdesi Sangeet Mahotsav at Rabindra Bhavan, Guwahati in 2002. Thanli had been felicitated on his being honoured Padmashree by eminent personalities like former Union Minister Shivaraj Patil, Lok Sabha Speaker Meirakumar, former Governor of Karnataka TN Chaturvedi, former Union Railway Minister of State Naranbhai J. Rathwa, Lok Sabha MP Naveen Jindal, former Union Home Secretary Dhirendra Singh, former Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi Sonal Mansing, Secretary of Sangeet Natak Akademi Jayant Kastuar, Managing Director ITC Hotels Limited Nakul Anand, Chairman of Development Credit Bank Limited, Mumbai Dr. NI Padamsee, Subhas Goyal MBA, PhD New Delhi, etc.

Age does not deter his passion for the art. Sougaijam Thanil had worked as an subject expert for the documentary film 'Pung, Rhythm of the Paradise' (2008) produced by Waves Films for PPC (NE) Doordarshan, Guwahati and as an organiser in the Rajashri Bhagyachandra Nritya Natyam held on 5th july 2009 under the aegis of University of Bhagvata Culture, ISKCON, Imphal and participated in two day Symposium on 'Fundamentals of Manipuri Literature and Culture' jointly organised by Sahitya Akademi and Manipur Kala Kendra, Imphal on 30-31 July 2009 and participated in the performance of Nata Sankirtana 'Astakal Leela' on 2nd September 2010 organised by Guru Bira Nata Sankiratana Academy, Imphal.

Sougaijam Thanil had participated in the Festival De L' IMAGINAIRE at Paris, France from March 24 to 27, 2011 and worked in the Research and Script for the documentary film 'Cholom' (2011) produced by Films Division, Government of India and also participated in combined meetings of Music, Dance and Theatre Advisory Committees of Sangeet Natak Akademi at Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh (5-8 June, 2011). He had participated as a Guru for Manipuri Pung (Manipuri Classical Percussion) in the National Convention at NIT (K), Mangalore organised by Spic Macay conducting 5 days intensive course of Pung, and also in the history of Dhumel Sankirtana, for the first time 'Stage Dhamel' was performed under his direction on the stage and participated in the 1st International Convention at IIM Kolkata from 20-26th May 2013 organised by SPIC MACAY for the promotion of Indian culture.

Sougaijam Thanil has been serving under different capacities in various cultural institutions to formulate programmes and schemes to preserve, promote and propogation of Manipuri art and culture. He is serving Shree Shree Govindajee as Hanjaba of Govindajee Pala Yaima; President of Nata Sangeet Academy and Research Centre, Imphal; consultant of Chorus Repertory Theatre, Imphal; Advisor of Shri Shri Govindajee Nata Sankirtana Akademi, Imphal; Consultant of University of Bhagvad Culture, ISKCON, Imphal; Advisor of All Manipur Gourangalila and Sansenba Artiste Association, Imphal; Consultant of Kanglei Mime Theatre, Imphal; Advisor of Nimita Devi Nitya Ashram, Imphal; Life member of Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Imphal.

See a full photo gallery here