Chingtham Ranjeet Khuman

🪔 About

Chingtham Ranjeet Khuman, born on January 1, 1966, in Haobam Marak Irom Leikai, Imphal, Manipur, India, is a distinguished guru and artist dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Thang-Ta, the traditional martial art form of Manipur. He commenced his formal training in Thang-Ta in 1982, completing a degree course from Hula Sindamsang, Imphal. His extensive tutelage was under eminent gurus including Ojha Sinam Devabrata, the founder principal of Hula Sindamsang and a Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee, Padmashree N. Khelchandra Singh, President of Hula Sindamsang, and other notable figures such as R. Manikchand Singh, P. Ibomcha Singh, Kh. Manamohan Singh, Birjit Ngangom, Angom Mera Singh, and Achom Mani Singh. Khuman's career reflects a profound commitment to Thang-Ta. He served as a Senior Instructor at HULA SINDAMSANG from 1988 to 2005 and as a Casual Guru at the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA) from 2005 to 2006. He currently holds the position of Thang-Ta Guru and Director of KANGLEI SHAKTAM LANGBA KANGLUP in Imphal, and is a Guest Faculty member in the Theatre Department at Manipur University of Culture. He is also an expert committee member for Thang-Ta for the Ministry of Culture and CCRT, Government of India, and a Programme Committee Member of the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata. Khuman has significantly contributed to the global recognition of Thang-Ta through extensive national and international performances and workshops across 26 countries, including Sweden, Italy, China, USA, UK, Brazil, Peru, and Taiwan. He has also choreographed and served as a martial art instructor for theatre productions and films, notably the Bollywood movie "Omkara". Awards & Honours: Scholarship in Thang-Ta (Ministry of Human Resources Development, Department of Culture, Govt. of India) (1992), Junior Fellowship in Thang-Ta (Ministry of Culture) (2000), Manipur State Kala Akademi Award in Thang-Ta (2010), Senior Fellowship in Thang-Ta (Ministry of Culture) (2010), National Award for Thang-Ta (Irawot Memorial Charitable Trust, Manipur) (2012), Tuli Yaima Major Award (Manipur Cheirap Loisang, Shri Shri Govindajee Temple Board, Palace Compound), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Thang-Ta (2022).