Prestigious Jnanpith award to be conferred to E Sonamani

Imphal, Oct 14: The Jnanpith Jury Board has decided to confer the Jnanarima Manad Alankaran 2017 to Elangbam Sonamani Singh, a noted Manipuri litterateur. According to the Jury , Sonamani Singh has enriched Manipuri language with his adept, multifaceted creations through novels, short stories, poetry, translations and Khand Kavyas. His creations reflect the socio-cultural milieu and capture the changing times through the prism of our rich traditional values. He has authored more than forty books and is a doyen of the Manipuri literary and socio-cultural fraternity. Recipient of many prestigious awards that include Manipur State Kala Academy, Central Sahitya Akademi, Translation Award of Central Sahitya Akademi, Thoibi Award, Sonamani Singh is a writer of unique excellence. The winning author, under this scheme, will receive a monthly honorarium for next one year for his literary endeavors and will also be felicitated by Jnanpith with a Saraswati Murti, citation and shawl. Elangbam Sonamani Singh was born as fourth child of Elangbam Leiren Singh and i Ibemhal Devi on 11th July 1929 at Moirangkhom Loklaobung Imphal, Manipur. He has published more than forty books in Manipuri in different genres like poetry, short story and Novel. E Sonamani started writing from a very early age, when he was in school. He has given a distinct language to Manipuri short stories. All the novels from the pen of Shree Sonamani Singh deal with history, historical romance, philosophical and sociological feelings and a deep sense of esthetics. He was awarded Manipur State Kala Academy(1987), Sahitya Academy Award for Literature, New Delhi(1988), Chongtham Bimola Basanta Award(2008), Fellow Manipur State Kala Academy(2009), Srimad Paramhansa Swami Jogendrananda Giri Memorial Award (2009), Salam Ibomcha Lakshmi Literary Award (2010) Manipuri Sahitya Bishenpur, sahitya Ratna Manipuri Sahitya Parishad Assam(2010), Writer of the year (Manipur Sahitya Premi), Thoibi Award(2011) Cultural Forum, Translation Award Sahitya Academy Delhi(2012). UNI