Padmashri Guru Sougaijam Thanil passes away
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 31 2023:
Renowned guru of Manipuri Nata Sankirtana Padmashri Sougaijam Thanil passed away at his Singjamei Yumnam Leikai residence on early morning Friday.
He was 90.Sougaijam Thanil was born to Sougaijam Ksher Singh and late Ibemhal on February 1, 1946.He completed diploma in Manipuri Dance and post graduate diploma in Nata Sankirtana (Pung) from Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA), Imphal.
Later, he joined JNMDA as Guru of Nata Sankirtana (Pung) in 1976 and promoted to Pradhan Guru in 1988.He held the post of director (in-charge) of the academy in 2005 before retiring from service the next year.
He was conferred India's fourth highest civilian award Padmashri in 2004 in recognition of his contribution in the promotion of Nata Sankirtana.
Besides, he was honoured with Manipur State Kala Akademi Award (1980), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1994), Manipuri Sahitya Parishad Vaid Bhushan (1997) and Vaid Ratna (2011) among other awards and recognitions.
He penned and published several books on Nata Sankirtana and some of his mentionable books are Meetei Pung Rajmel Humphumari (1971), Khomjillaba Meetei Punglon Tanjao (1981), Punglon Rajmel Taranithoi (1986), Nata Sankirtana Raag Punglon (1999) and Raas Humphumari Seishak (2007) among others.
Meanwhile, several organisations have condoled the untimely demise of Sougaijam Thanil.