Padma Devi Award-2022 presented to R Robinson Moyon
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 31 2022: Writer R Robinson Moyon, who contributed a lot to promote Manipuri literature despite being a Moyon tribe, has been conferred the Padma Devi Award-2022 of the Naharol Sahitya Premi Samiti, Imphal.

The award was conferred to R Robinson Moyon in a ceremony held Saturday at Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal.

The award donated by late editor of Poknapham daily Shamurailatpam Gopal Sharma and family in the name his late mother Padma carries Rs 20,000 cash, a citation and a shawl.

Robinson has been conferred the award in recognition for his Leela book 'Kappu Kapninglakeeda'.

Born on April 2, 1958 to (late) R Wangtha Moyon and Pekung Chara at Komlathabi village in Chandel district, Robinson is a graduate in library and information science.

He joined South East Manipur College, Komlathabi as librarian in 1985 and retired in 2014.Despite being not his mother language, Robinson released his drama book in Manipuri entitled 'Mahakna Hairammi' in 1981 and the 'Kappu Kapninglakeeda' in 2014 .

He was earlier honoured With special award (Manipuri)-2017 of Sahitya Seva Samiti, Kakching.

Among five different awards of Naharol Sahitya Premi Samiti presented on Saturday at JNMDA, chief guest of the event Manipur Handloom & Handicraft Development Corporation Limited chairman Kh Ibomcha handed over Padma Devi award-2022 to R Robinson Moyon.

Elated over getting the award, Robinson said Meeteilon is lingua franca of all the indigenous communities settling in Manipur since time immemorial and it is the bounded duty of all the indigenes of Manipur to promote Meeteilon.

Thanking Naharol Sahitya Premi Samiti for conferring Padma Devi award, he said conferment of Padma Devi award gave him new spirit to contribute more to promote Manipuri literature and called upon all the indigenous communities of the state to promote the lingua franca.

A member of Padma Devi award donor's family namely Shamurailatpam Gautam (Boby) Sharma said that the award is a gift presented to writers dedicated to promotion of Manipuri literature and territorial integrity of Manipur by his late father Shamurailatpam Gopal Sharma and elders.

He said that Meeteilon (Manipuri) continues to be the lingua franca of different indigenous communities of Manipur and hence it is responsibility of every indigenous community of the land to promote this language.

With this thought in mind, my late father and elders decided to donate the award, Gautam added.

In his address at the event, Kh Ibomcha said the role played by writers in rectifying mistakes and bring the society to the right path.

Apart from Padma Devi award, four other awards instituted by the Samiti were also presented.

The awards are Khaidem Pramodini Award-2022 to writer Wahengbam Kumari Chanu, Jananeta Hijam Irabot Mana-2022 to Maibam Nabakishore Singh, Tayenjam Jayanta Poetry Award-2022 to writer Arambam Ongbi Memchoubi and Sanasam Ongbi Moirangthem Maipakpi Sahitya Mana-2022 to writer Nepram Maya Devi.

A book entitled 'Manipuri Sankirtangee Hourakpham and Masak' dedicated to Padmashree Guru Sougaijam Thanil Singh was also released at the event presided by Naharol Sahitya Premi Samiti, Imphal president Naoroibam Indramani.

The event was also attended by Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Imphal president Longjam Jayanta and Cultural Forum Manipur president professor Huirem Bihari Singh.

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