Haobam Ongbi Ngangbi Devi

🪔 About

Haobam Ongbi Ngangbi Devi (1924-2014) was an eminent Indian classical dancer, musician, and singer, celebrated for her profound contributions to Manipuri dance and music. Born on August 1, 1924, in Uripok Bachaspati Leikai, Imphal, Manipur, she hailed from a family deeply rooted in the performing arts, with her father, Kijam Bokul Singh, being a known Sankirtan Pala performer. Her artistic journey began at the tender age of five, when she started learning Manipuri dance and music at the Manipuri Sangeertan Sangh, making her debut as an artiste at the Jalpaiguri Festival in Kolkata in 1930. Devi received extensive training in various Manipuri dance forms, including Lai Haraoba, Raas (Ras Leela), Nata Sankirtan, and ethnic folk dances, under the tutelage of esteemed gurus such as Guru Atomba Singh, Yumnam Ojah Natum Singh, Guru M. Amubi Singh, Ngangom Ojah Jugindro Singh, and Rajkumar Surjabaro Singh between 1932 and 1940. Concurrently, from 1936, she also pursued Hindustani classical music under Ustad Meisnam Bidhu Singh and Chingakham Radhacharan Singh. She was also known to have learned martial arts of Manipur from Ojha Pheijao Sana and Ojha Damu Singh. Her career was marked by significant milestones, including her role as an actress for the Manipur Dramatic Union, Rupmahal Theatre, and Aryan Theatre from 1936 to 1945. She became the first classical singer from Manipur, recording for All India Radio and lending her voice as a playback singer for 'Mainu Pemcha,' the first Manipuri feature film, in 1948. Haobam Ongbi Ngangbi Devi joined the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA) in Imphal in 1954 as a musician and instructor, later becoming an Assistant Teacher of dance in 1958. She rose through the ranks to become the Head of the Department of Folk and Community Dance in 1966 and served as the Vice-Principal of the Academy from 1973 until her retirement in 1985. She is credited with researching Lai Haraoba and developing a syllabus for the institution. Throughout her active years, she represented India in numerous national and international cultural programs and festivals. For her immense dedication and contributions to Manipuri arts, she received several prestigious awards, including the Manipur State Kala Akademi Award in 1980, the Nritya Bhushan Award from Manipuri Sahitya Parishad in 1985, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1993. In 2010, the Government of India honored her with the Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award. She passed away on June 12, 2014, in Imphal. Awards & Honours: Birangana (title) and Gold Medal for Sword Dance (1951), Manipur State Kala Akademi Award (1980), Nritya Bhushan Award (1985), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1993), Padma Shri (2010).