2 from Manipur win Ustad Bismillah Khan award

Staff Reporter/DIPR
IMPHAL, Aug 19 : Recogni-zing their outstanding talents in the field of Manipuri dance and traditional & folk music, Manipuri artistes Manju Elangbam and Ahongshangbam Aneshori Devi of Manipur have been conferred Sangeet Natak Akademi Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2018 today.
Governor Dr Najma Heptulla presented the prestigious award to the two Manipuri artistes and 30 others artistes  from various States of the country at a solemn function organized by Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi at Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA) auditorium today in conjunction with inauguration of Festival of Music, Dance and Drama at the same venue. Manju Elangbam, who is also a recipient of many other awards, including Manipur State Kala Akademi Yuva Award, 2012 was born in 1983. He learned Manipuri dance from N Amusana Devi and Jatindra Singh. He had also obtained PhD in Manipuri Dance from Visva-Bharti University. He was conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2018 for his notable talent in Manipuri Dance.
Ahongshangbam Aneshori Devi who bagged Sangeet Natak Akademi Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2018 today for her notable talent in the field of traditional and folk music of Manipur also bagged other awards, including Young Talent Award conferred by Manipur State Kala Akademi in 2014 and Young Talent Award by AMACSU in 2015.
She learned folk music from Langathel Thoinu and Pena from Khangembam Mangi Singh and later completed Diploma in Manipuri dance and Nata Sankirtana from JNMDA, Imphal. She was born on February 1, 1980 in Wangbal Thongjao.
Speaking at the function as chief guest, Najma Heptulla stated that art and culture of Manipur is second to none in India. She congratulated the Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar Award-2018 awardees, specially, the two awardees from Manipur. She also expressed confidence that many more young talented artistes from the State will earn name and awards in different fields in the years to come and her best wishes will always be with them.
Dance and music symbolizing joys and jubilations of generations hold the imprints of their long social and cultural history and tradition. Artistes of every generation have interpreted them and further enriched the tradition.
“Keeping them alive is, therefore, a magnificent form of paying homage to our artistes and to our heritage. We must ensure the survival of our traditional art, our dance forms and our music. We should encourage our youth to keep these skills and creativity alive and robust. The Ustad Bismillah Khan Puraskar is such a step and the effort of SNA in this direction is commendable”, the Governor stated.
The function was also attended by Sangeet Natak Akademi Chairman Shekhar Sen as the functional president.
Mention may be made that the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar presentation ceremony was held for the first time in the State. Various Hindustani music, dance, theatre as well as traditional folk, tribal music and puppetry will be organized during the festival which will conclude on August 23.