Imphal, January 23 2009: It's raining National level awards in Manipur besides two more nominations in the pipeline.

In a move that could positively be considered a big morale boost and recognition to all the efforts and hard works put in by the people of Manipur at the National level, three individuals from the State are all set to receive National or equivalent awards in the coming days even as two professors of the Manipur University (MU) have already received on December 29, 2008.Interestingly, two more are nominees of other National level awards.

According to reports, Prof W Viswanath Singh and Dr RK Gambhir Singh of the Department of Life Sciences, MU were conferred gold medals and a citation each by the Zoological Society of India on December 29, 2008 during the 19th National Congress of Zoology held at Gauhati University in Guwahati.

They were awarded the National level awards for their outstanding contributions in the field of research, added the report.

Besides this, two artists from the State have also been chosen for the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards, 2008.According to reports published as received from the Manipur Information Centre (MIC), Ningombam Ibobi Singh was chosen for his contribution in the field of Nata Sankirtana while Leitanthem Heramot Meitei was chosen for his contribution in Thang-Ta.

According to the reports, the General Council of Sangeet Natak Akademi, the National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama in its meeting held in New Delhi on January 10, 2009 selected 34 (thirty-four) practitioners of Music, Dance and Theatre for the Akademi Puraskar (Akademi Awards) for the year 2008 .

The award, conferred in 1952, not only symbolises the highest standard of excellence and achievement on national basis but also recognises sustained individual work and contribution to the practice, stated the reports.

The award will reportedly carry a cash prize of Rs 50,000/ besides a Tamrapatra and Angavastram.

With the above mentioned awards going off mainly to the elders of the State and not wanting to be left behind, a lad from the State, Y Addison Singh is all set to receive the National bravery award for children on Republic Day in New Delhi.

According to various reports as received from the MIC, Addison Singh is amongst the twenty children including eleven girls selected by the Central Government to receive the National Bravery Awards for Children, 2008.The award is being given to those who showed immense courage and even risk their lives to save someone or sometimes their own.

Under this award, the awardees are entitled to financial assistance till completion of their schoolings under sponsorship programme of the councils besides the government of India reserving some seats for them in medical, engineering and polytechnic.

Besides these winners and to be winners, it is also interesting to note that MC Mary Kom has been nominated for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award which is one of the biggest sporting awards in the country.

Winner of four World Boxing Championships in the 46 Kg category, MC Mary had been earlier denied of the award.

But after winning the world boxing championship for the fourth time, there are high speculations that she would eventually win the award this time.

Moreover, MC Mary Kom is also been nominated for the 'MTV India Youth Icon of the Year, 2008', an award given by the Music television to an individual for his/her outstanding achievements in a particular field in the given year.

And joining all these individual awards and nominations is the Loktak Lake of the State.

Situated in Moirang of Bishnupur district, the largest fresh water lake in the North East of India has been reportedly nominated for the NDTV's Seven Wonders of India.

Perhaps, in a first of its kind, the news channel of India, NDTV is reportedly holding the campaign in collaboration with the Union ministry of Tourism as a part of Incredible India! campaign.

Manipur on the National list is perhaps nothing new to the people of the State with state already being a recipient of many National awards in the previous yearsbe it literature, art, theatre or even cinemas not to forget sports.

However, these awards could once again remind the people of the state that their efforts and hard works are being recognised.

These could also be perhaps a reminder to the people of the state that they could perhaps beat just anyone to the race for the national awards thus encouraging and boosting their morale.

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