Laisram Birendra Kumar Singh :: Padma Shri 2017 Award Winner (music)
- Curriculum Vitae -

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Laisram Birendra Kumar Singh :: Padma Shri 2017 (music) Winner

Shri Laisram Birendra Kumar Singh,
Yaiskul Hiruhanba Leikai, Imphal, Manipur.

1. Date of Birth : December 8, 1920
2. Place of Birth : Yaiskul Hiruhanba Leikai, Imphal, Manipur.
3. Father's Name : Late Laisram Tomaljit Singh
4. Mother's Name : Late Laisram Ongbi Ibemhal Devi
5. Nationality : Indian
6. Permanent Address : Yaiskul Police Lane / Yaiskul Hiruhanba Leikai, Imphal, Pin-795001

8, Academic achievements :
(i) Matriculated from the University of Calcutta, on 22 June, 1939 in the First Division.
(ii) Passed Survey Final from the Bengal Survey Education Advisory Board, Calcutta in 1945 in the First Division.

9. Professional employment history:

Just after completion of his studies, he was directly appointed to the Assam Surveys, Govt, of Assam, Shillong with effect from November 1945 to 1947. He came back home and served as a teacher in a private school at Canchipur from 1947 to 1950. Then he served in Engineering Corporation, a private farm for one year. He then joined Manipur State P.W.D. with effect from 1950 and retired from the service as an Engineer Asst to SE,: PWD, Manipur In 1979

10. Information concerning life and works:

(a) Shri Laisram Birendra Kumar Singh evinced interest in Music from his early age, particularly in Indian raga music, and other light music like 'Bhajan' of the North India and 'Kiriana' of the Fast India. While a student in the East Bengal (now Bangladesh) in 1940, he however perceived to his amazement that people of the East Bengal, had intense love for their folk music.

A Gentleman of the place imparted to him "You must respect your own folk music, it is your identity, only then, you will be able to get your high status in the world culture" Shri Singh took the words seriously and believed in it On his return to his country, inspite of his busy professional life, he started to learn folk music. After retirement from the Government service in 1979, he dedicated his whole soul to folk music both academically and scientifically by associating, with the folklorists and musicologists of Bengal, Assam, Tamilnadu and even from America. Further, he has been probing in depth the folk and tribal music of Manipur including the tribal indigenous musical instruments, also. In 1982, He made a comparative study on traditional Vaisnava music of Manipur with that of the old Assamese Vaisnava Oja pali music. Partially, he learned the neo-Vaisnava music of Sankardeva from his Borgit.

He was a music director as many as for 30 different plays in different theatrical performances in Manipur He was a stage singer and actor too. He became an artist of the All India Radio, since 1949 and also an artist of the Doordarshan Kendra, Imphal since 1992. At the same time he was a talker of the Akash Vani Imphal, both in Manipuri and English on musical topic only. He takes parts in various music concerts arranged by the Akash Vani and other private organisations.

(i) He was a Governing Body Member of the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) Calcutta, for the period 1986-88 and programme Committee Member of the Centre (EZCC) Calcutta for the period 1988-92, in connection with the music of the State.

(ii) He was a member of the Government Body, Executive Board and Programme Committee of the North East Zone Centre (NEZC) for the period 1992-95, in connection with the music of the State

(iii) He was a member of the General Council of the Manipur State Kala Akademi from 1984-92 and was also a member of the Executive Board of the Akademi from 1984-89.

e) The UPSC New Delhi, appointed him as an adviser to the Chairman Union Public Service Commission in an interview for the selection of Programme. Executive for Folk Music for the A I R. Imphal, held on 7th May 1990 at New Delhi. He attended the interview as an Examiner.

f) He was one of the Jury Members of the Manipur State Film Festival held on 1984 and 1994 at Imphal.

(g) The Government of Manipur, under their No. 1/Secy (AC) 92 dated Imphal the 11th June, 1992 has conveyed the Government's deepest appreciation for Shri Laisram Birendrakumar Singh's contribution in making the Tribal folk Music Festival held on 28th to 29th May, 1992 a grand success The Government has pointed out that, it was due to the tireless efforts and energy put in by him in organizing the various tribal groups of Manipur.

(h) The Manipur University has appointed him as an expert and external Examiner of the University.

(i) He was an occasional and part time lecturer of the Manipur University, Canchipur, under the Manipuri Department's refresher course on Manipur Studies.

j) He was an occasional and part time lecturer of the National School of Drama (NSD) held at their camp at the Chorus Repertory Theatre, Imphal (Samusang Uku) on Kangchup Road.

11. Publication / Discs or Cassette etc. by Shri Singh.

Publications:

(a) In 1983, he contributed an article "Folk songs of Manipur" for the Indian Folklore a study of Folk songs under the project 'Indian and Japanese Folk literature' instituted by the Intercultural Research Institute of Kansai University of Foreign Studies, Japan, Edited by Shri Sankar Sen Gupta, Calcutta. However, the book was not published.

(b) In 1983, Assam Academy for Cultural relations Guwahati, Assam published a book "Focus on Folklore No.1", edited by Dr. Birendranath Duta. In that book, lie contributed an article 'Manipuri Folk music'.

(c) In 1987-90, he contributed articles for "The concise Encyclopedia of Music, Dance and Drama in India" Mumbai, under the Chief Editor Padmabhusan late Shri Nikhjl Ghose, Director of Research of "Sangit Mahabharati", Mumbai.

(d) In 1990, the Assam Academy for Cultural relations Guwahati.' Assam, published a book, "Traditional performing Ars of North-East India", edited by Dr. Birendranath Dutta. In that book, be contributed an article "Musical Qualities of some of the Ancient Manipuri Folksongs".

12. Book Published:

(a) In 1999, the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi published a book 'An Anthology of Manipuri Folksongs' in Manipur, Compiled and edited by him.

(b) The Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi published a book "Manipuri Loksahitya, in Manipur, compiled and edited by him.

c) He compiled and edited a book "Manipuri Eeshei gi Wakhallon" a discussion on the esthetic values of the Manipuri music and a comparative study of music of the neighbouring states, published by the Imakhol Publications Manipur in March, 2013

(d) He compiled and edited a book "Manipuri Lok Sahtyagi Machal Khara" a discussion on Manipuri Folk Music and Folk Literature, Published by the Imakhol Publications Manipur in March, 2016.

There are still many other articles published locally written in Manipuri and English, are not mentioned here.

Pena - an indigenous musical instrument from Manipur :: Pix - Mayanglambam Mangangsana (Laihui)

Discs or Cassettes:

One disc record sung by Shri Singh in Manipuri in remoulded from the folk music. Few Cassettes are available in the local market sung by him.

13. Books manuscript in the Press for Publication:

(a) "Tribal music of Manipur", a compilation of various ethnic music from among the Manipuri Tribals in connection with their respective cultural perspectives and musical instruments.

(b) A comparative study of Vasnava Music from among the (i) Padvali Kirtana music of Bengal under the school of Shri Chaitanya deva of Bengal, (ii) Neo-Vaisnava music of Assam under the school of Shri Sankar deva and (iii) Vaisnava music of Manipur from Pandit Narottam Thakur, under the school of Shri Chaitanya Deva of Bengal

(c) July-August 2013; Prepared manuscript for the guide book on the Gallary of Musical Instruments of the Manipur State Museum. These Instruments belong to various ethnic groups had been a source of Peace, Unity and Harmony among the people of the State.

14. Important Seminars participated:

(a) In February 1981, the Secretary Centre for Advanced Studies in music, Durgapur, West Bengal, invited Shri Singh from Manipur as a delegate at a Lok-Utsav, for an Academic Seminar, he had read a paper 'A note on the musical qualities of some ancient Folk Song and Tribal Song of Manipur.

(b) The Indian Folklore Congress 1983 organised by the Akademi of Folklore, Calcutta and Ranchi University in Bihar, invited Shri Singh as a delegate and read a paper "Indian Folk Continuum in Manipuri Ethnomusic". Venue of the Seminar was at Ranchi, Bihar.

(c) Shri Singh read a paper on "Indian perspective in the ethnic music of Manipur" at the National Seminar on Common Motifs in India Folklore, organised by the Central Institute of Indian Language and Literature at the Manipur University, Canchipur, Imphal on June 1983.

(d) In 1982, the Manipur Folklore Society invited delegates form Assam, Bengal and from some other states of the North-East India for a Folklore Seminar on 'Methodology and Folklore Studies'. Shri Singh read a paper on 'Significance of Pena and its Origin'.

(e) In the International Cultural Conference of Culture for peace held at Imphal, Manipur in 1991, Shri Singh as a delegate read a paper 'Manipur Folk music' (with the basic approved on Musical Anthropological and Historical).

(f) In 2002, Shri Singh read a paper The Folk music Tradition of Manipur Valley' in a seminar organised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi in its function "Brhaddesi Festival of Regional Music, North Eastern Region" at Guwahati.

(g) Shri Singh read a paper "Tradition of Manipuri Music" in the National Seminar on Science, Philosophy and Culture in Manipuri Language sponsored by Centre for Studies in Civilisations, Delhi, organised by Philosophy Deptt. Manipur University in 2002,

(h) In 2003, Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi and Manipur State Kala Akademi, Imphal, celebrated Golden Jubilee of Sangeet Natak Akademi at Imphal. In the seminar of the Festival of Traditional performing Arts of Manipur, Shri Singh read a paper on Traditional Manipuri Music'.

15. Names of organizations of which Shri Singh is a member.

(a) He is a president, Society for Folklore and Literary Research, Kha-Naorem Leikai, Canchipur.
(c) He was a member of The society for Ethnomusicology' (SEM). Morrison Hall 005,
Indiana University, Bloomington IN 47405-2501, U S.A.
(d) He is a life member of the Manipuri Sahitya Parisad Paona Bazar Imphal
(e) He is a life member of the Cultural Forum Manipur B.T. Road Imphal
(f) He was an Advisor to the Ragailong Cultural song and Dramatic Union, Minutliong, Imphal.
(g) He was a President of the Nata Sangeet Academy and Research Centre, Yaiskul Janmasthan, Imphal.
(h) He is a life member of the 'Naharol Sahitya Premi Samiti' Impha! Manipur.
(i) He is a President of the Kangleipak Taibang Pena Maheikol, Imphal.
(j) He is a Senior Advisor of the Apunba Manipur Matam Eshei Kanglup (AMMIK),Imphal.
(k) He is a regular columnist of "Poknapham" and "Sangai Express" of Imphal, the leading Daily papers of Manipur.
(l) He is a life member of IRAMDAM MEEYAMGI APUNBA KHORJEI LUP (IMAKHOL), Awang Potsangbam, Manipur.

16. Titles and Honours.

(a) Laisram Gourahari Memorial Award in 1979.

(b) Certificate of Honour from the Government of Manipur in 1991.

(c) Sangeet Bhusan from Manipuri Sahitya Parisad in 1991,

(d) Akademi Fellow in Lok Sangeet' from Manipur State Kala Akademi in1991-92.

(e) Thoibi Award from the Cultural Forum Manipur in 1992.

(f) The Governor Award for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Manipuri Music from the Horizon Group in 2002.

(g) Srimad Paramahansa Swami Jogendranath Giri Memorial Award for his Contribution in the Folk and Tribal music of Manipur from the Manipuri Sahitya Parisad, Imphal in 2003

(h) Sangeet Natak Awardee for Folk and Tribal music of Manipur from the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi in 2003.

(i) 'Sheiheklen' from the Panthoibi Natya Mandir Imphal in 2003,

(j) Meitram Bira Award from the Rupmahal Theatre, Imphal m 2003.

(k ) 'Sangeet Ratna' from the Manipur Sahitya Parisad Imphai in 2004.

(m) The District Governor of Rotary Club of Imphal, Rotary International Division – 3240 Conferred on him the Honour of Senior Citizen of the Society for his exemplary life time contribution to the society of the year 2007 in his fields,

(n) Nongmaithem Pahari Memorial Trust, Imphai conferred Life Time Achievement Award to Shri Laishram Birendra Kumar Singh on Ahanba Nongmaithem Pahari Ningshing Kumon 2007

(o) Apunba Manipuri Matam Ishei Kanglup (AMMIK) conferred Life-Time Achievement Award to Shri Laisram Birendra Kumar Singh as the observance of the Vllth Matam Ishei Numit held on the 30th September, 2009, organised by Apunba Manipuri Matam Ishei Kanglup (AMMIK).

(p) Panthoibi Cultural Research Centre for Performing Arts & Panthoibi Film Institute, Paona Keithel, Imphai conferred Nongpok Ningthou Award, 2010 to Shri Laisram Birendra Kumar Singh for his contribution to Manipuri Folk Music & Research.

(q) Ethno Heritage Council (HERICOUN) conferred TOMTHIN KHUDOL AWARD for the year 2012 to Laisram Birendra Kumar for his outstanding contribution in the field of our Indigenous folk music for the year, 2012.

(r) The writers' Forum, Imphai presented a Memento to Shri Laisram Birendra Kumar Singh on the Silver Jubilee Celebration held in September 2013, in recognition of his contribution as a Manipuri Matam Eshei Lyric,

(s) Golapi Nata Sankirtana Academy, Imphai presented a Memento to Shri Laisram Birendra Kumar Singh, on the 20th Guru Kirtana Seva, 2013 for the prominent role in the conservation of Manipur Culture.

(t) Neta Irabot Celebration Committee, Kakching presented Neta Irabot 2014 Memento to Shri Laisram Birendra Kumar Singh on September 2014 in recognition of his High ideals. Perseverance Firm stands and as a guide to Manipuri Ethnomusicology

(u) Conferment of Honoris Causa - DOCTOR OF LITERATURE DEGREE in recognition of his contribution to Manipuri Folklore by Hon'ble President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee at Manipur University on 29th April 2014 to Shri Laisram Birendra Kumar Singh

(u) On 10th May, 2015, the Manipuri Sahitya Parisad, Paona Bazar Imphal conferred as Shri Laisram Birendra Kumar Singh "The Rani Kherdani (Elangbi) Devi Mana" for the book "Manipuri Isheigi Wakhallon" written by him.

(v) On 2nd June 2015, a certificate of Honour from the Manipur Students Olympic Association conferred on Dr. Laishram Birendra Kumar Singh "The Abok Radhe Memorial Award 2015", in recognition of his outstanding zeal and high quality of service rendered for the development of Music in Manipur.

(v) On 8th August, 2015, the Naharol Sahitya Premee Samiti Dave Literature Centre, Imphal conferred Writer of the Year 2015 (Life time Achievement Award) to Shri Laisram Birendra Kumar Singh of Yaiskul, Imphal.

(x) The Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi has nominated Shri Laisram Birendra Kumar Singh as a member of the newly constituted Advisory Committee of the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal for a term of five years (2015- 2020).

(y) The Cultural Forum, Manipur, Rupmaha! Tank Complex, B.T. Road Imphal, conferred on Shri Laisram Birendra Kumar Singh Laishram Tomba Memorial Award 2016 (Lifetime Achievement in Folklore) on May 17, 2016.

Apart from the Bio- data as given above, further information concerning life and works of Shri Laisram Birendra Kumar Singh is given as below:

His present work is on the study of Pena Music, its form, function and value and even its philosophy too. Undoubtedly, Pena is an indigenous folk instrument of Manipur, but to the Meiteis it is very sacred, like Veena of the ancient India. Further Shri Singh opines that Pena Music from its nature and characteristics can claim both 'marga' and 'deshi', like that of the opinion of Sarangadeva in his Sangeet Ratnakara. The matter had already been discussed in his seminar papers.

Besides, he is writing on Folk and Tribal indigenous musical instruments of the North-Eastern India with the exchange of various such instruments from one place to another, we find it much helpful in assessing a good idea of the early history of the South-East Asia, which contains a variety of cultural cum historical influences specially in the history of the musical sphere of the North-East India.

Consequent to the above, his strong desire is to study of the music of Manipur. Manipur is a very small state and there are more than thirty different tribes, each having different type of music in different movements of notes, expressing similar moods and sentiments. These are his ethno musicological studies and still remain unsolved, inspite of different opinion from different scholars.