TheManipuri Sahitya Parishad (Meitei:ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯁꯥꯍꯤꯇ꯭ꯌ ꯄꯔꯤꯁꯗ,lit. 'Manipuri Literary Council') is a literary council dedicated to the active promotion and the development of literary works in theMeitei language in India.[2][3] in national as well as international levels.[4]It has its branches in the Manupur cities ofImphal,[5]Jiribam,[6]Bishnupur[7] andThoubal[8] insideManipur and inTripura[9] andMeghalaya in Assam.[10]
The Manipuri Sahitya Parishad organises research works, seminars, symposiums, publication of journals and books, translation works of Meitei-language literary works into other languages, preservation ofMeitei folktales andMeitei music, bestowing of literary awards and cash prizes to outstanding writers and artists.[11]
Kamini Kumar was the patron of Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Tripura since its establishment in the year 1963. He donated₹1,000 (equivalent to₹83,000 or US$980 in 2023) to the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Imphal, through which the Sahitya Parishad managed to bestow the prestigious "Kamini Kumar Memorial Gold Medal", a 3 yearly award for the best creative-writing inMeitei language, written byManipuris of outside ofManipur.[14]
On 24 June 2019, Abdul Hamid, aMeitei Pangal ofCachar,Assam, was bestowed the prestigious "Kamini Kumar Gold Medal Award" in the 84th Annual General Meeting of the "Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Imphal", at the Jawaharlal Nehru Dance Academy inImphal.[15]
Other than the field ofMeitei literature, the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad also promotes the people who contribute to the fields of Matam Ishei, Nat Sankritan, Raas, stage drama, Goura Leela, paintings,Thang-Ta, Lairik Thiba, Pung, among the elements ofMeitei culture, by conferring awards every year.[16][17][18][19]
Promoting theMeitei classical dance and theMeitei Sankirtana, the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Imphal, bestowed the title of 'Sangeet Ratna' to Chengtham Subal and Haobam Basna, in 1976 and 1984 respectively.[20]
Ningthoukhongjam Chandrahas Singh (1904-1966) was the first president of the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Tripura. He participated in the annual conference of the Parishad in Imphal as a delegate from Tripura in 1964. Besides, he was the first Manipuri of Tripura, who became a session judge.[14]
A. K. Seram, the Founder and the President ofBangladesh Manipuri Sahitya Sangsad, attended a number of literary seminars, organised by Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Assam in India.[24]
Karam Ibungohal was the general secretary of the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Assam and editor of the annual journal of the Parishad.[25]
Kheiruddin Chowdhury was the President of the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Assam. Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Imphal bestowed him the prestigious Kamini Kumar award in 1978. He advocated on manyMeitei language movements (Manipuri language movements), specifically in theCachar district of Assam.[25]
Rajkumar Kamaljit (b. 1924) was the President of the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Tripura and founder-editor of Manipuri Journal named"Marup".[25]
Mayengbam Ramgopal was the secretary of Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Tripura, the chief editor of"Takhel Leirang", a magazine of Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Tripura.[25]
R. K. Jitendrajit was a Secretary of the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Tripura.[26]
Wangkhem Biramangal was closely associated with Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Tripura, Tripura Rabindra Parishad and other philanthropic organisations in Tripura, and is actively engaged in the promotion ofManipurology.[26]
