Brief sketch on the public persona of Padma Shri Th Chaoba, Sanathoiba
Source: The Sangai Express / PIB

Imphal, April 06 2023: President Droupadi Murmu has conferred Padma Shri on former Union Minister Thounaojam Chaoba Singh and Thang-Ta Guru Kakchingtabam Sanathoiba Sharma in the field of public affairs and art respectively.

They were honoured with the award during the Civil Investiture ceremony held in New Delhi yesterday.

Thounaojam Chaoba Singh hails from Utlou Mayai Leikai and was born on May 10, 1937 .

He is a veteran politician and former Union Minister of State and ex-Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur.

As an MLA for five terms, Member of Parliament for three terms and Minister in the State as well as at the Centre, he has distinguished himself in "Public Service" since 1969 .

Th Chaoba Singh did I-COM (Intermediate of Commerce) from DM College Imphal and took up teaching as a profession.

Brief sketch on the public persona of Padma Shri Th Chaoba, Sanathoiba

He took part in the rich cultural tradition of Manipur as an artist in theatre and acted in several mythological productions taking roles such as Arjun in Mahabharata before he entered politics.

He also received best actor awards and established the Public Theatre Artistes Association in 1956 and has been its chairman since 1978 .

Th Chaoba Singh entered public service in 1969 and took up several rural grassroot activities like digging of public ponds for villages and developing playgrounds in all the villages in his Constituency.

He made special efforts to bring development to the minority ST population of Kabuis in his Constituency by ensuring them jobs and livelihood.

Th Chaoba Singh was elected as an MLA for the first time in 1972 and was re-elected for 5 consecutive terms.

In 1974, he served as the Deputy Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

In 1977, he served as a Minister of State in the Government of Manipur and in 1980, he was elevated to a Cabinet Minister.

In 1994, he was appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister.

He was elected as Member of Parliament (three times) to the 11th, 12th and 13th Lok Sabha in 1996, 1998 and 1999 respectively.

He served as the Union Minister of State for Sports, Youth Affairs, Culture and Food Processing in the NDA Government under the Prime Ministership of Late Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Th Chaoba Singh also served as the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Manipur Pradesh for two terms from 2000 to 2003 and from 2013 to 2016 .

He has worked relentlessly for the development of the Party in Manipur at the grassroots level by working tirelessly for uplifting of weaker sections of society irrespective of caste, creed and religion.

He also contributed immensely to the promotion of sports in Manipur and also in the preservation of the historic Palace Compound (Konung Lampak) .

In the field of agriculture, Th Chaoba Singh established the Utlou Joint Farming Cooperative Society in 1965 and in 2002, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Bishnupur district was sponsored and established.

He also established the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Agricultural Institute, Bishnupur district in 2017 and is now serving as its Chairman.

Kakchingtabam Sanathoiba Sharma is a distinguished Guru of the traditional indigenous martial art form "Thang- Ta" which is an art of warfare, a way of life with a vast scope involving physical and mental aspects based on traditions, culture, and spirituality which was learned by the entire Manipuri society during the old days to protect their homeland from external aggressors.

He is widely recognized for his outstanding contribution in the field of Thang-Ta.

Kakchingtabam Sanathoiba was born on April 1, 1955 at Thoubal Wangkhem.

Born in a renowned family practicing Mukna Kangjei, a traditional wrestling, and the art of Thang-Ta, K Sanathoiba learnt different principles and techniques of Thang-Ta both physically and philosophically under various renowned Gurus such as Padma Shri Gurumayum Gourakishor Sharma, Gurumayum Sana Sharma, Moirangthem Ibetombi Singh, S Devabrata Singh, Haobam Ibotombi Singh (Bormantri), P Manichand Singh, K Biren Singh and others.

Over the last four decades, K Sanathoiba has dedicated himself entirely to popularizing the art of Thang-Ta.

He established the Association for Paona Memorial Arts and Rural Development Services (APMARDS), Thoubal Wangkhem in 1981 which is one of the leading centres of Manipuri art & culture.

He has travelled throughout India and to a number of countries to promote the art form.

He has organized numerous workshops and festivals on Thang-Ta in association with various Government Departments, delivered lectures and demonstrations at many National and international events.

He has also written numerous articles and made many publications on Thang-Ta.

K Sanathoiba is the Principal cum Director of the Huyen Lallong Manipur Thang-Ta Cultural Association, Irilbung, Manipur.

He has served as an expert committee member of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India and Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, New Delhi (2008-2020) and served as a member of the first and second Academic Council of the Manipur University of Culture for two terms (2016-2022) .

Sanathoiba has served as the General Council Member of Manipur State Kala Akademi for two consecutive terms (2012-2018) and he is also presently serving as the General Council Member for a third term (2022-2025) .

He has also been associated with Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal in the formation of committee on Thang Ta, associated with Directorate of Arts and Culture, Manipur (since 2011), and has also served as a Thang-Ta Guru of Shri Shri Govindaji Temple Board, Manipur.

K Sanathoiba is a recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2014), Manipur State Kala Akademi Award (1993-94), Kala Bhusan (Thang-Ta) from Manipur Sahitya Parishad (2010), Fellowship from Manipur State Kala Akademi (1987-88), title "Safa Lanfaba" (Brave Warrior) in 1997 and "Joypatra Award" in 2022 from Shri Shri Govindaji Temple Board, Manipur, Young Scholarship (1981-82) and Junior Fellowship (1992-93) from Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.