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Ashangbam Minaketan Singh

アシャンガム ミナケタン シン

Ashangbam Minaketan Singh

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1906-05-02 (Wangkhei Ashangbam Leikai, Imphal, Manipur, India)
Died
1995 (Uripok Cheirap Panchay Maning, Imphal, Manipur, India) age 89
Nationality
Indian
Languages
Meitei (Old Meitei), English, Bengali, Hindi, Sanskrit
Residence History
Imphal, Manipur, India

Career

Occupations
poet, writer, critic, translator, playwright
Active Years
1928-1995
Affiliations
Manipuri Sahitya Parishad
Memberships
Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Naharol Sahitya Premee Samiti

Education

University of Calcutta
Degree: Bachelor of Arts (1930); later MA, PhD (年不明)
Year of Graduation: 1930
Country: India
Graduated from the University of Calcutta in 1930. Mastered English, Bengali, Hindi, Sanskrit and Old Meitei by that time.

Awards

Sahitya Ratna
1971
Organization: Manipuri Sahitya Parishad
Result: 受賞
Sahitya Akademi Award
1977
Work: Asheibagi Nityaipod
Category:
Organization: Sahitya Akademi
Result: 受賞
Soviet Land Nehru Award
1977
Organization: Soviet Land Nehru
Result: 受賞
Kavi Samrat
1980
Organization: Thangal Marup (Hailakandi, Cachar)
Result: 受賞
The Most Eminent Citizen of Manipur
1985
Result: 受賞
Padma Shri
1985
Organization: Government of India
Result: 受賞
Shubharna Jayanti Sanman
1986
Result: 受賞
Jamini Sunder Guha Gold Medal
1988
Result: 受賞
Thoibi Award
1988
Result: 受賞
Lalit Memorial Gold Medal
1990
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Basanta Sheireng

1928 poetry

An early collection of poems combining traditional Meitei expressions with themes of nature and love.

naturelovetradition

Asheibagi Nityaipod

1976 poetry

A significant later poetry collection showcasing mystical depth and themes of motherhood and love for the homeland.

mysticismmaternal lovepatriotism

Asheibagi Sheirol

1977 poetry

A 1970s poetry collection notable for coinages from Old Meitei and use of archaic vocabulary.

languagetraditionmythology

Tonu Laijinglembi

play

A play; precise publication year and page count are not known.

folk traditionhuman relationships

Bharatki Lonsingi Marakta

essay

Collection of essays with reflections on nation and culture.

culturehistory

Meitei Upanyas

criticism

Critical essays on Meitei novels.

literary criticismnovels

Bibliography

  • Basanta Sheireng (1928)
  • Asheibagi Nityaipod (1976)
  • Asheibagi Sheirol (1977)
  • Tonu Laijinglembi
  • Bharatki Lonsingi Marakta
  • Meitei Upanyas

Style & Themes

Literary Style
erudite, dense style using coinages from Old Meiteiprefers mystical and symbolic imageryemploys obscure vocabulary and references that reward rereading
Recurring Motifs
motherhoodlovelove of homelandmyth and traditionnature

Health

  • cardiac arrest
    1995
    Died of cardiac arrest in 1995. Marked the end of his creative activity and a significant moment in Manipuri literature.

Legacy

Regarded as one of the founders of modern Manipuri literature and widely esteemed as a master of Meitei letters. His linguistic innovations and erudition made him a representative figure of 20th-century Manipuri literature.

Academic Societies

  • Manipuri Sahitya Parishad
  • Naharol Sahitya Premee Samiti
  • Writers' Forum (regional literary groups)

Archives

  • Regional archives in Imphal and collections held by Manipuri literary institutions

In Popular Culture

  • A year-long official centennial celebration was observed in 2006

Quotes

  • "Love makes the universe; love gives soul to the world."
    Source: Poem 'Bidai Ashirbad' (from his poetry)

Trivia

  • Known for inventing many new words derived from Old Meitei.
  • Born 1906, died 1995. Centennial celebrations were held in 2006.
  • Son of Ashangbam Jivan Singh and Medhabati Devi; described in sources as an only child.