Sougaijam Thanil Singh

🪔 About

Sougaijam Thanil Singh was a distinguished Indian classical dancer, renowned for his profound expertise in Manipuri dance and Nata Sankirtana. Born on February 1, 1946, in Kakching Wairi, Thoubal district, Manipur, to Sougaijam Ksher Singh, a Manipuri dancer and Pung player, and Sougaijam Ongbi Ibemhal Devi, he began his artistic journey at a young age. He inherited his father's passion for the Pung (a traditional Manipuri drum) and received his initial training from him, starting to play at six or seven years old. His formal education in dance commenced under the tutelage of esteemed gurus such as Guru Tombi Sharma, Guru Bhaigyachandra Singh, and Guru Koireng Singh, who further honed his knowledge of Sankirtana. He later enrolled in the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA) in Imphal, where he earned a Diploma in Manipuri dance and a Post Graduate Diploma in Nata Sankirtana (Pung) in 1974. Sougaijam Thanil Singh dedicated a significant part of his career to his alma mater, joining JNMDA as a Guru (Pung) in 1976. He steadily rose through the ranks, becoming Pradhan Guru in 1988, and eventually served as the Director in-charge from 2005 until his retirement as officiating Director in 2006. He was a pioneer in promoting Manipuri dance and Nata Sankirtana globally, playing a crucial role in Nata Sankirtana's recognition by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. His contributions extended to authorship, with five books on Sankirtana to his credit, and he also directed and choreographed several dance dramas. He passed away on March 31, 2023. Awards & Honours: Manipur State Kala Akademi Award (1980), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1994), Baidya Bhushan (1997), Padma Shri (2005), Baidya Ratna (2011), Manipur State Kala Akademi Fellow (2023), Vadya Shiromoni.