JM Singha honoured, Mukherjee to be honoured today

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Nov 26: Gitiswami Janma Jayanti Udjapan Committee, Guwahati and Gitiswami Gokulanda Trust, Guwahati today conferred the Gitiswami Award on Late Jagat Mohan Singha, former president of Bishnupriya Manipuri Sahitya Parishad (BMSP) who had led the Bishnupriya Manipuri language movement from the front in the 20th century, posthumously at the 120th birth anniversary programme of the Gokulanda Gitiswami at Silpgram at Panjabari in Guwahati. Two scions of Late JM Singha – Gautam Sinha and Rejesh Sinha – received the award.  

Besides being an able social leader, Late Jagat Mohan Singha was a litterateur. His songs set to music by his bosom friend Pandit Motilal Sinha are ageless creations that keep audience enthralled even today. With this award, the Gitiswami Janma Jayanti Udjapan Committee and Gitiswami Gokulanda Trust did justice to the long overdue recognition to the late leader.

Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Mahasabha (NBMM) secretary general Udai Sinha, Bishnupriya Manipuri Writers’ Forum (BMWF) president Dils Lakshmindra Sinha and others spoke at length on the life and philosophy of the altertive media maven. Dils Sinha related the reform-oriented verses of Gokulanda with the present day socio-cultural scerio of Bishnupriya Manipuris.   

It was followed by a lively relay discussion of the life and philosophy of the bard by as many as seven girls – Sukanya Sinha, Sumi Sinha, Sujita Sinha, Ritu Sinha, Rinita Sinha and Thirtha Kumari Sinha.

The Gitiswami Gokulanda Trust, Guwahati led by Col (retd) Bijay Sinha from the front as the chairman extended fincial aid to as many as ten meritorious students for the continuation of their higher study. The trust has been extending such fincial assistance to meritorious students of the community since its inception.

Patharkandi MLA Krishnendu Paul assured the gathering of constructing a Bishnupriya Manipuri Centre at Patharkandi in Karimganj district. He also promised to extend Rs 1 lakh to Gitiswami Gokulanda Trust, Guwahati from his MLALAD Fund.

In his presidential address, Rebati Mohan Sinha of Mumbai said: “If we can go home back with just ten per cent of what the speakers in this function said on the philosophy of Gokulanda Gitiswami, I will feel the holding of this function is great a success.”   

Earlier, Rebati Mohan Sinha released the souvenir published by the Gitiswami Janma Jayanti Samiti. A novel – Asha – authored by Indira Sinha, the granddaughter of Gokulanda Gitiswami, was also released by former SCERT Director Kumkum Singha.    

The birth anniversary of Gokulanda Gitiswami, an altertive media magnet, social reformer, poet, bard, balladeer, a politician and what not is celebrated every year by the Gitiswami Janma Jayanti Udjapan Committee, Guwahati and Gitiswami Gokulanda Trust, Guwahati and a few other organizations in Guwahati. The birth anniversary of the altertive media maven will be celebrated by another organization – Gitiswami Janma Jayanti Udjapan Samiti, Guwahati tomorrow with a daylong function also at Silpgram in the city where noted poet Madan Mohan Mukherjee will be honoured posthumously with the Gitiswami Award. The programme will have Pouri, Bangladesh editor Sushil Sinha as the chief guest. Besides Sushil Sinha, noted dance teacher, Guru Bibhul Kanti Sinha, will be felicitated. The main speaker of the programme is former NEHU professor Dr. lini Kanta Sinha.