Naorem Kalimohon Singh : A Profile

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Naorem Kalimohon Singh

BIODATA OF NAOREM KALIMOHON SINGH

An agricultural reformer, playwright, pioneer of District Sports Association, Kakching and founder of Kha Manipur Dramatic Union, Naorem Kalimohon Singh was born on 30 March 1929 to Naorem Thambou Singh and Nongmaithem Ningol Naorem Ongbi Chamu Devi of Kakching Khullen Ningthou Leikai, Manipur. He is the fourth child of his parents, who had three sons and three daughters.

Kalimohon married at the age of twenty-nine with Kshetri Ningol Akasini Devi and has five children—two sons and three daughters. His mother Chamu Devi was an ardent Nisha Band Leader and she was introduced to Indira Gandhi at New Delhi by RK. Mukhrasana of Imphal. As born in an illiterate family, Kalimohon started his education very late at the age of 12 years. By that time he used to follow his father in ploughing paddy fields. He started education at Government L.P. School, Kakching and passed class II examination conducted by Manipur State Government in 1941.

To be admitted to class III, he went to Imphal with four friends to purchase books as the same were not available at Kakching. As no regular vehicle service was available at that time, he spent five days at Imphal waiting for bus. But he returned to Kakching on foot via Mayang-Imphal (so-called Mayai-Lambi covering 42 Kilometers) . He attended Kakching M. E. School in 1944 in the first batch as the school itself had started in the same year. As it was the time of Second World War, constructions of roads, air field, etc. were going on war- footing. During holidays, he worked as a half-paid labourer for the construction works.

After passing sixth standard from the M. E. School, he went to Imphal for further study. By that time as there was neither any hostel nor any boarding at Imphal, he put up with a little- known family. He passed Matriculation in 1950 and appeared for the final examination of Intermediate Arts in 1952. In the same year, there was a severe famine in Manipur and as such, he faced many difficulties to continue his study.

He was compelled to earn money. At that time the Community Development Project was inaugurated at Thoubal as a scheme of First Five Year Plan and advertisement for selection of Village Level Worker (VLW) was issued. While applying for the same, he was selected. After completion of six months' training at Jorhat, he was appointed as a Village Level Worker in March 1953 and posted at Yairipok. Again after completion of one year Basic Agriculture Training at Khanapara, Guwahati, in 1957, he was promoted as an Extension Officer in 1958.

From 1974 to 1986, he worked as an Assistant Project Officer (Agriculture) in SFDA and DRDA (central), Imphal on deputation under Foreign Service Rule. Though Kalimohon Singh was not a Graduate, he earned many experiences by undergoing many trainings at not less than ten different training centres of the country. He retired from service in 1992.

The activities of Kalimohon Singh in government, semi-government and non-government services are many. To name a few,
he was a Councillor of Manipuri Kala Akademi;
Member of Advisory Committee of All India Radio, Imphal;
a Talker at AIR Imphal;
President of District Sports Association, Kakching,
Sangeet Kala Akademi,
Hindustan Sangeet Mahavidyalaya,
Writers' Association and
Sahitya Seva Samiti;
Charter President of Lions' Club, Kakching, etc.

For his achievements, he maybe termed as one of the most versatile social workers of Kakching.

Kalimohon is generally known as a playwright. He remarked that his writing of plays was inspired by the plays of G.C. Tongbra, the eminent playwright of Manipur excelling in satire and humour. He established a new dramatic unit at Kakching under the title of Kha-Manipur Dramatic Union.

Till now, he has written eighteen dramatic plays and all of them were performed in the stages by different units including M.D.U., Rupmahal Theatre, Kha-Manipur Dramatic Union, etc. His play "Apang Khunjao" (Government of the Fools by the Fools for the Fools) is the most attractive and prominent one. He also directed some plays and the first one "Apang Khunjao", which was his masterpiece, performed by Kha- Manipur Dramatic Union. Besides the Plays, he wrote six books on different subjects.

Naorem Kalimohon Singh : Receiving Sahitya Bhusan on 21st nov 2011

A Select Bibliography:

Drama:

Khwaigi Hotel (1965)
Apang Khunjao, 1966
Mang Natte Taibangni, 1981
Pakhra-Lukhra -1, 1983
Nongmagi Ningthou, 1983
Ningollakpa, 1983
Lei Pollang, 1984
Chakpa Heiyainu, 1984
Kumgi Nong, 1984
Meiriktagi Meijaobi, 1985
Champrasi, 1986
Shakuntala, 1987
Mutkhrasanu Lammeise, 1988
Nungshibimallida, 2000
Angang, 2001
Mihouchaobigi Wa Lourubadagi, 2002
Lakpa, 2003
Pakhra-Lukhra -2, 2005

Essay:

Taretsuba Angang, 1984
Khungangi Anouba Yawol, 1988

Short Story:

Ningollakpa, 1984
Imanasu Uroidabada, 2009

Poetry:

Melada Utkhidraba Sanarei, 2010

Translation:

Panchatantragi Akhannaba Wareeshing, 2005

Naorem Kalimohon Singh with (wife) Kshetri Ningol Akasini Devi

Awards & Recognitions:

o Certificate of Honour for outstanding performance of official duties (given in a Republic Day Celebration at Thoubal) in 1992
o 'Writer's Award' in 2001 by Writers' Association, Kakching
o 'Abhinandan Patra' in 2002 by Rupmahal Theatre centre Award in 2004
o Lalit Ningshing Khudol, Imphal in 2004
'o Ibotomba Award' in 2006 by Sahitya Pracharak Wangjing
o 'Lifetime Achievement Award' in 2009 by Writers' Association Kakching
o 'Sahitya Bhuson' in 2009 by Manipuri Sahitya Parishad Imphal
o Dr. BR Ambedkar Award in 2010 by Bharatiya Sahitya Akademi Imphal
o Hawaibam Nilamani Ningshing Mans in 2012 by Rupmahal Theatre Imphal
o Writer of the year in 2013 by Naharol Sahitya Premi Samiti Imphal
o Ikai Khumnaba Cherol in 2017 by Macha Chanu Kakching

A chronology of Kalimohon:

o 1929 - Born at Kakching Ningthou Leikai, Manipur
o 1950 - Passed Matriculation from CC High School Imphal
o 1952 - Passed final examination of Intermediate Arts from DM College Imphal
o 1953 - Appointed as a Village Level Worker
o 1956-57 - Received Basic Agriculture Training at Khanapara, Guwahati
o 1958 - Appointed as an Extension Officer (Agriculture)
o 1965 - Published first book 'Khwaigi Hotel' (drama)
o 1974-86 - Appointed as an Assistant Project Officer (Agriculture) under deputation to SFDA and DRDA (central)
o 1976 - Appointed as an Agriculture Officer
o 1976 - Joined as the Director of Kha-Manipur Dramatic Union Kakching in 'Apang Khunjao'
o 1992 - Retired from service as an Agriculture Officer
o 1980-86 - Served as President of District Sports Association Kakching
o 1998-99 - Served as President of Sahitya Seva Samiti Manipur; Kakching