Binodini Devi

🪔 About

Maharaj Kumari Binodini Devi (born Sana Wangol on February 6, 1922, in the Royal Palace, Imphal, Manipur Kingdom; died January 17, 2011, in Yaiskul, Imphal, Manipur, India) was a multifaceted Indian figure renowned as a writer, social activist, and princess of Manipur. The youngest daughter of Maharaja Sir Churachand Singh and Maharani Dhanamanjuri Devi, she was Manipur's first female graduate. Her education included studies at Pine Mount School and St. Mary's College in Shillong, Vidyasagar College in West Bengal, and Viswa Bharati University in Santiniketan, where she specialized in sculpture and was a muse for artist Ramkinkar Baij. While primarily celebrated for her extensive literary contributions across genres like novels, short stories, essays, plays, screenplays, lyrics, and ballet scripts, Binodini Devi also made significant contributions to Indian classical dance. She served as the first Secretary of the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA) for over a decade, where she pioneered the incorporation of Manipuri martial arts, Thang-Ta, into the canon of classical Manipuri dance. She scripted several modern Manipuri ballets, including *Keibul Lamjao* and *Loktak Isei*, which were produced by JNMDA. In 1976, she led the first all-Manipuri dance troupe on an international tour to the US, Mexico, Canada, and Europe. Beyond dance and literature, she was a social activist, participating in the Quit India Movement, and founded LEIKOL (Leima Khorjei Kol), a women's writers' circle, and co-founded Roop Raag, an association for artists. Her legacy is preserved by the Imasi Foundation, established by her son, L. Somi Roy. Awards & Honours: Jamini Sunder Guha Gold Medal (for Nunggairakta Chandramukhi) (1966), Padma Shri (1976), Sahitya Akademi Award (for Boro Saheb Ongbi Sanatombi) (1979), Kamal Kumari National Award for Culture (2002), Eminent Senior Writer Award, Sahitya Akademi (2007), Ningombam Pramodini Literature Award (2008), Seram Mukta Award (2009), Lifetime Achievement Award, Manipur State Kala Akademi (2011), Best Story award at the 9th Manipur State Film Awards (for Nangna Kappa Pakchade) (2014).