Yumlembam Gambhini Devi | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1945-01-01)1 January 1945 (age 80) Yaiskul Hiruhanba Leikai,Manipur, India |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Dancer |
| Known for | Nata Sankirtana,Manipuri dance |
| Spouse | Konsam Thopi Singh |
| Parent | Y. Gulap Singh |
| Awards | Padma Shri Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Nritya Ratna Award Nat Sangeet Award |
Yumlembam Gambhini Devi is an Indian singer ofNata Sankirtana and dancer ofManipuri Raas.[1] She is a member of faculty at Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA)[2] and a recipient of the 1988Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.[3] The Government of India awarded her the fourth highest civilian honour of thePadma Shri, in 2005, for her contributions toManipuri dance and music.[4]
Gambhini Devi was born on the New Year day of 1945 at Yaiskul Hiruhanba Leikai in the Northeast Indian state ofManipur to Y. Gulap Singh, a Nata Sankirtana performer, as the fourth of his eight children.[5] She started learning music and dance at the age of 5 and , later, joined the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA) from where she secured a post graduate diploma inRaas. At the Academy, she received training from such notable gurus such as Amudon Sharma,Maisnam Amubi Singh, Khaidem Lokeshor Singh, Kshetritombi Devi, Ngangom Jogendra Singh and Ibopishak Sharma, inManipuri dance and from Nongmaithem Tomba Singh, Khanda Moina Dan, Ngangom Jogendra Singh and Thokchom Gopal Singh in music (Monoharsai Kirtan).[1] Her debut performance was when she was 7 years old and has performed on various stages in India and abroad since then.[5] Her teaching career started at her alma mater where she worked as a member of faculty till her superannuation in 2005. While continuing as a visiting Senior Guru (Guruhan) at the Academy, she worked for theImphal station of theAll India Radio as a Top Grade Artist, reportedly the first female artist from the state to get the top grade.[1] She also founded a music training institute,YGR, Nat Sankirtana Sheidam Shang.[5] She is a former member of the selection committee of theRabindra Bharati University and the Central Dance Audition Board of theDoordarshan, the Indian national television network. Her songs have been compiled in two albums and she has published a book under the name,Basak, on Basak songs.[6]
Manipuri Sahitya Parishad awarded Devi theNritya Ratna Award in 1979 and she received theNat Sangeet Award from the Manipur State Kala Akademi in 1980.[5]Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Nata Sankirtan reached her in 1988,[3] the same year as she was selected for the Senior Fellowship by the Department of Culture, under theMinistry of Human Resource Development.[1] The Government of India honoured her with the civilian award of thePadma Shri in 2005.[4]
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