Manipur’s Thiyam Ibochoubi National Award, 2018 was conferred to Ningthoukhongjam Dilip Kumar of Agartala of Tripura on Sunday.
The award comprises one shawl, a citation and cash award of Rs 10,000.
The award was given away by Manipur Art and Culture Minister L Jayantakumar Singh during the award ceremony cum observance of 122nd birth anniversary of Lamyanba Hijam Irawat and International Translation Day held at Manipur Hindi Prishad of Old Assembly Road in Imphal on Sunday.
Director of Art and Culture, A Shivdas Sharma; Director of Information and Public Relations, Heisnam Balkrishna and N Dilip Kumar also attended the award ceremony which was organized by the Sahitya Thoupang Lup of Imphal.
Speaking at the function, Arts and Culture Minister Jayantakumar lauded the role of the writers in the society.
He asserted that translation itself is a big art. It cannot be taken as an easy job.
One needs to have the same feeling and emotion before translating a text or a story, he added.
Calling Lamyanba Hijam Irawat as a friend of the poor, Jayantakumar maintained that the selfless deeds of Irawat rendered for the people of Northeast, particularly Manipur, is very precious.
He is a man of action who took a leadership role in all walks of life.
Apart from being a social reformist Irawat is a true leader, the minister added.
Regarding the problems faced by the writers of the State, Jayantakumar assured that a guest house of the writers has been planned to be constructed at Wakha of Imphal East. Detailed Project Report has been prepared for the proposal, he added.
In his presidential speech, director of I&PR, Balkrishna Singh said that the role of the writers in the society is indeed vast.
Different forms of writings and literatures of the world altogether communicate to bring social peace and harmony in the world, he added.
He also stressed for the necessity of a publishers’ guild in order to facilitate the publishers including the writers of the State in the areas like marketing of the literature pieces including local journals and magazines.
He also maintained that DIPR, Manipur has been encouraging the local writers by recognizing their literary pieces.