Three noted musicians of the State, Tanbor Swer, Daminot J Wankhar and Adalyne Khonglam were honoured at an award ceremony jointly hosted by Anuprerona, Riti Academy and Media Plus at Soso Tham Auditorium here today.
Swer, a veteran songwriter, vocalist and traditional and modern Khasi musician, was conferred with the Rana Kharkongor Memorial Award. In his career, spanning more than 50 years, he has written a wide range of compositions on nature, humanity, youth, social issues, patriotism, Christian hymns and personal experience about life and society.
Swer is a top grade radio artiste and has a collection of several musical albums, including certain prestigious performances in the state and the region.
Wankhar is an academician, litterateur and versatile lyricist and vocalist with his own distinct style and melody. The puns and satire in his lyrics are simple, contemporary and relevant at all times and a few of his songs inspire the reformation of society and motivate revolutionary spirit that may be categorised as Khasi classical music. A songwriter who sings and writes secular and Gospel music both in vernacular language, Khasi and in English, Wankhar is also an outstanding performer and entertainer par excellence.
Khonglam is a home-grown songwriter, musician with captivating vocal chords that have emotional energy and stimulate excitement in people with her lyrics about rural life, compassion and every positive temperament in society. She has on several prestigious occasions performed solo and with a group of artistes in the state, the region and in the country. Adlyne is also a poet, and a writer of some books, besides a top-grade radio and television artiste.
Wankhar and Khonglam were conferred with Riti Excellence Awards.
Eight people from Assam were also received awards for literature and social service. They are Dr. Naren Hazarika, Senior Journalist, Editor of Daily Daindeen Barta, Nang Anjana Gogoi, Advisor of Dauboria Barta (weekly news magazine), Sukleswar Nath, Ushamoni Saikia, Literature & Social Service, Alaka Bujar Baruah, School Teacher, Manju Hazarika, school teacher, and Inu Sarma, while Sajan Bhuyan was the recipient for Social Service.
Arts and Culture Minister, Paul Lyngdoh attended the award function as the chief guest in the presence of Frederick Roy Kharkongor, Commissioner and Secretary Arts and Culture and N Munish Singh, Zonal Director, Indian Council for Cultural.
In his speech, Lyngdoh lauded the initiative of the organisers to acknowledge the local artists of the State who had contributed to society through their creative expressions. He spoke about the upliftment of arts and culture in the State including the institution of separate awards for the arts and the renaming of SICPAC to Lariti International Center for Performing Arts and Culture.
He also recalled his childhood memories of Khasi traditional songs sung by the awardees and the association of Wankhar and Khonglam in the music album produced by the Khasi Students Union, while he was the leader.
A cultural programme was also held on the occasion which saw the performance of the awardees and the emerging musical band, Na U Bnai, Saphina Kharhunai and Aanya Kharhunai, grandchildren of noted musician, Late Rana Kharkongor. The Assamese troupes also presented cultural performances, including the famous and popular Bihu dance.
