Rajkumar Bhubonsana Singh : A profile
Recipient of Manipur State Award for Literature 2018-19

Daniel Chabungbam *

RK Bhubonsana bags Manipur State Award for Literature 2018-19 on August 21 2019 :: Pix - DIPR

RK Bhubonsana was born on October 11, 1951 at Sega Road Konjeng Hazari Leikai, Imphal. Father's Name (Late) Rajkumar Agnisana Singh and Mother's Name (late) Ningthemcha ongbi Mombi Shija. He has two elder sisters, one younger brother and a younger sister.

In his early age, he stayed at his maternal uncle Pukhrambam Chaoba Singh's and seek education. He studied fourth and fifth class at Sega Road Primary School. After completing primary level he studied at Ram Lal Paul High School Keishamthong from third standard to class ten.

He passed matriculation from Ram Lal Paul High School in 1967. He completed his graduation in Political Science Honours from Imphal College in 1972. After completing Master in Political Science from Guwahati University in 1977 he joined Imphal Urban Co-operative Bank Limited as a Probationary Officer in 1979. He retired from the Bank as Assistant General Manager in 2013.

From his childhood, he has a keen interest in prose and poetries written in Manipuri language. He also has a liking in writing. His first poem was published in a journal 'Khonthang' in 1969 edited by Aribam Chitreshwar Sharma.

After which he became a member of Naharol Sahitya Premi Samiti in 1970-71 and work for the upliftment of Manipuri Literature. During those days his poems were published in Wakhal of Naharol Sahitya Premi Samiti, Ritu of Cultural Forum, Sahitya of Manipur Sahitya Parishad and also in Malem journal.

Bhubonsana's first poetry book 'Jarasandh' was published in 1991. He also worked on Children literature in Manipuri. He presented paper in 'Status of Children Literature in North East India' seminar held at Agartala in 2003, jointly organized by Poetry Council of Tripura and National Book Trust New Delhi.

He participated and read out poems in many functions organised by Eastern Zonal Cultural Council, North East Zone Cultural Council and Sahitya Akademi held across India. In 2005, he participated in the annual meeting of Bangladesh Manipuri Sahitya Sansad and was invited for the National Poetry Festival of Bangladesh at Dhaka in 2012.

Some of his original poems were translated into Hindi, Bengali, Assamese, Gujarati, Marathi, Nepali and Spanish and published in Indian Literature, Chandrabhaga, Kavya Bharati, Rang Prasanga, Sabd, etc.

His poems were also published in An Anthology of Contemporary Poetry from North East of Nehu, Shillong (2003), Dancing Earth, Penguin Books India (2009) and Oxford Anthology of Writings from North East, Oxford University Press (2010).

RK Bhubonsana is a founder member of Writer's Forum Imphal, life member of Naharol Sahitya Premee Samiti, life member of Manipuri Sahitya Parishad Imphal and also a member of Guwahati based North East Writer's Forum. His role in upliftment of Manipuri Literature is worth mentioning.

Apart from translating English poems into Manipuri, he has been a regular contributor of Manipuri daily 'Poknapham'.

Published books of RK Bhubonsana are:
o Jarasandh (Poetry) 1991,
o Mamising Pambomsing (Poetry) 1996,
o Mei Mamgera Budhi Mamgera (Poetry) May 1999,
o Sana Kokchao (Children's story book) October 1999,
o Eikhoi Punna Nokminnasi (translated Manipuri children book published by National Book Trust India) January 2000,
o Asnagba Unagi Mami (Poetry) May 2002,
o Mei Eeshing Nungshit Leibak Atiya (Poetry) November 2006,
o Taranga Aur Akash (Poetry) collection of Poems and translated in Manipuri- January 2010,
o Sajibugi Meiri (Poetry) December 2010,
o Sana Kokchao amasung Bhoot Ningthou (children's story book) November 2012 and
o Kellaba Unasing (Poetry) December 2014.

Achievements:

o Telem Abir Selgi Mana 2001, by Manipuri Sahitya Parishad Imphal for his poem Mami Pambomsing;
o Sahitya Akademi Award 2002, by Sahitya Akademi New Delhi for his poem Mei Mamgera Budhi Mamgera;
o Atoibemma Award 2003, by Naharol Sahitya Premee Samiti, Imphal for his poem Sana Kokchao;
o Minaketan Ningshing Mana 2006, by Manipuri Sahitya Parishad Imphal for his poem Mei Eeshing Nungshit Leibak Atiya;
o Tayenjam Jayenta Poetry Award 2014, by Naharol Sahitya Premee Samiti Imphal for his poem Sajibugi Meiree;
o Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2014, by Sahitya Akademi New Delhi for his book Sana Kokchao amasung Bhoot Ningthou and
o Manipur State Award for Literature 2018-19 by Government of Manipur for his book Kellaba Unasing.

Manipur State Award for Literature is sponsored by the Government of Manipur from 2008-09 to honour the Manipuri writers in recognition of their contributions to Manipuri Literature. The award is given every year to the author of the most outstanding book, first published during the last five years. At present the award includes a plaque, a citation, cash component of Rs. 3 Lakhs and a shawl.

Rajkumar Bhubonsana Singh has been chosen for the prestigious Manipur State Award for Literature, the highest official recognition for Manipuri Literature in the state for the year 2018-19.

The government decided to give away the 10th Manipur State Award for Literature to the 69 year old writer for his book 'Kellaba Unasing' (fallen leaves), a collection of poems published in 2014. He was selected for the award by a board of eminent persons set up by the Government of Manipur.