GUWAHATI:
Three young artists from Meghalaya have been selected for Young Talented Artistes Awards to be presented by the Ministry of Culture for the year 2021-2022, North East Zonal Cultural Centre (NEZCC) director Dr Prashanna Gogoi informed on December 14.
Those selected are Lemi R Marak (Umiam, Ri-Bhoi district) for Garo folk music, Amabel Susngi (Demthring, Sawlad Shillong) for Jaintia folk music and Bruceson Lyngdoh (Mawphlang, East Khasi Hills district) for Khasi folk music.
The selection was done by the selection committee of the Young Talented Artistes Award in its meeting held at Shilpagram in Guwahati on November 30.
The meeting chaired by N Tiken Singh, Director, Progressive Artiste Laboratory (PAL), Manipur also selected 21 other artists from six northeastern states for their talents/.
Of them, two artists are from Arunachal Pradesh- Ige Ete (West Siang district) for handicrafts, and Mokar Amo (Jirdin, West Siang district) for cane and bamboo crafts.
Eight artists have been selected for the award from Assam: Minanka Deka (West Boragaon, Guwahati) for mime, Arinjita Borah (KK Bhatta Road, Guwahati) for traditional music (khol), Nishant Malla Buzarbaruah (Uzanbazar, Guwahati) for painting. Shibangi Ratna Baruah (Ganeshguri, Guwahati for sattriya dance, Hirakjyoti Sarma (Panjabari, Guwahati) for folk music, Roshan Haque (Ambari, Guwahati) for mime, Dipjyoti Bora (New Guwahati for cane & bamboo craft, Noopur Talukdar (Japorigog, Guwahati) for sattriya dance.
Five artists from Manipur are: Okram Sonali Devi (Thoubal) for Manipuri dance, Thongam Yaiphaba Singh (Imphal) for Thang-Ta (traditional) Martial art, Nameirakpam Suriya (Imphal for folk dance, Saikhom Pinky Devi (Imphal West) for folk music and Wangkhem Apana Devi (Kakching) for theatre.
The lone Mizoram artiste to receive the award is Dr Lalhriatpuia (Aizawl) for folk dance.
The lone artiste from Nagaland is Imtinaro T Longkumer (Dimapur) for theatre.
Sikkim’s Sewon Rai (Gangtok) was also selected for the award for his painting.
The three artists selected from Tripura are: Anirban Banik (Agartala) for theatre dance, Rupali Debnath (Dharmanagar) for folk dance and Dipanjoy Majunder (Agartala) for mime.
The Young Talented Artistes Award Scheme was introduced by the Ministry of Culture in the financial year 2003–2004 to encourage and recognize young talents in various fields of folk art in the age group of 18 to 30 years.
“The NEZCC received 73 applications from the member Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. After thorough scrutiny of all applications, the Committee selected the 24 (12 female and 12 male), talented artists, for awards for the year 2021-22,” Dr Gogoi said.