Elam Indira Devi
By Birjit Thongram
Born on September
1, 1954 at Khwai Nagamapal Singjubung Leirak, Imphal, well-known classical Manipuri dancer Elam Indira Devi is the daughter of the late Elam Bidhumani Singh and Tourangbam Ningol Rosomani Devi. Nritya Rani-Indira who won the prestigious National Film Award 1975 for her performance in the first Manipuri feature film "Matamgi Manipur" started
learning dance at the age of five.
Her first Guru was late Amuyaima Singh. Early in her life, she got herself admitted in the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy for academic
schooling in dance. Since her childhood she availed the opportunities of traveling in various parts of India through the various cultural exchanges organized then by the Government of India in the Dance
Academy.
She played the part of 'Baldev' at an early age with the blessings of her second guru late Padmashri Maisnam Amubi in the latter's "Shri Krishna Bailyabela". She stood nearly always first in her school cultural meets. She was offered "Nrityacharya Diploma Certificate" at the age of 13 while she was reading in class VIII. She was prominent in taking parts in many cultural dances
performances while reading in high school.
The success story of her performance of "Lai Haraoba Dance" in folk items during the India Festival in France in 1985 has strong bearing of having a good foundation which she achieved after passing higher secondary examination and the encouragement through the scholarship she got for three years from the Government of India for Manipuri Dance under the central scholarship scheme of young workers in different cultural fields.
Besides dance Indira liked drama and pursued it as a hobby. She joined the Competition Western Theatre for the All India Drama festival 1970 and in July the same year she acted the part of 'Eshabel' the heroine in the play 'Chingda Satpa' of Rupmahal Drama Party in Bangalore. She also played the role of 'Shakhenbi' the heroine in the All India Short play competition in Allahabad for the first time and was awarded 'Merit Certificate' for her artistic performance.
In her college life with her experience in dance she ranked first in NCC and was selected as the best cadet. She was prominent in Republic Day Parades, shooting competitions and in many programs of cultural activities. In 1969 she was the general secretary of students' body of Ibotonsana Hr Sec School, Imphal and in 1972 was general secretary of GP Women's College and again in 1972 she became the joint secretary of AMSU.
After passing BA examination in 1976 she joined as a ballet artiste in the JN Manipur dance Academy under the direct supervision of late Rajkumar Priyo Gopalsana, Ex Principal Director of the JNM Dance Academy. She obtained postgraduate diploma in first class in 'Laiharoaba' in 1984 while she was still performing tours throughout India as an artist for the ballet unit of the JN Manipur Dance Academy. She involved herself in the production of various ballets of the academy with her prominent parts in those ballets. She acted as 'Thaba' in the ballet 'Kabui Keioiba'. People from different parts of India like Bangalore, Bombay and Madras deeply appreciated her performances in various ballets.
Indira passed MA in Manipuri literature from the Manipur University. She was the cynosure of all eyes in Paris for her "Laiharaoba Dance" and was selected as a delegate for the Moissive Folk show at Calcutta for the then USSR Festival in India in 1987. In 1990-92 she got junior fellowship award from Department of Culture, New Delhi and was awarded 'Nritya Rani' on 14th March 1994.
Elam Indira Devi is the founder and principal of Meitei Traditional Dance Teaching School and Performing Center. She has published two books on culture named "Lai Haraobagi Wakhallon Paring" in 1997 and "Meitei Jagoigi Chaorakpa Shaktam" (A glimpse of Manipuri Dances) in 1998 and another on the rhythm of Lai Haraoba songs. She is the expert consultant of refresher course on the subject 'Manipuri Dance Lai Haraoba' in MU under University Grant Commission. Indira is now Guru of JN Manipur Dance Academy, department of Lai Haraoba Dance traditional art form and still dedicating her will and efforts in the development of dance.
(Courtesy: The Imphal Free Press)
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