International Translation Day observed at Imphal, celebrated poet Robin Ngangom awarded

    By Dr. Syed Ahmed for TwoCircles.net,

    Imphal: Celebrated poet from North-East, Robin S. Ngangom was conferred the Sarda Translation Award 2013 on International Translation Day in recognition of his works on translation at a function organized by Sahitya Thoupang Lup at Manipur Press Club, Imphal, on September 30, 2013.

    The award, named after Ningombam Sarda Devi (1969-2006), was presented to Robin Ngangom by Art and Culture Commissioner, Govt. of Manipur, Dr. R.K. Nimai Singh. The function was attended by poets and literary enthusiasts of the State.



    Dr. R.K. Nimai Singh presenting Sarda Translation Award 2013 to Robin Ngangom

    Member of Council for Promotion of Indian Languages, Ministry of HRD, Saratchand Thiyam presented a lecture on “Linguistic Barriers – A United World.”

    The lecture was followed by reading of translated poems of some of the well-known poets of Manipur, namely Thangjam Ibopishak (read by Shreema Ningombam), Y. Ibomcha (by Akhu Chingangbam), R.K. Bhubonsana (by Sundari Irengbam), Raghu Leishangthem (by Laishram Gojendra) and Saratchand Thiyam (by Dr. K. Ragini Devi).

    Robin Ngangom is a bilingual poet who writes in English and Manipuri. He was born in 1959 in Imphal. He studied literature at St. Edmund’s College and the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong. He is now an Associate Professor in Department of English at NEHU.

    The Desire of Roots (2006), Time’s Crossroads (1994) Words and the Silence (1988) are some of Robin Ngangom’s published works of poetry. He has also published poems in many anthologies and volumes of English Poetry, and also in national and international literary journals. Robin Ngangom has over the years translated many of the Manipuri poems written by some of the well-known Manipuri poets into English.

    Robin Ngangom was conferred with Katha Award for Translation in 1999 and the Udaya Bharati National Award for Poetry in 1994. He took part in the Indian Writers Festival, Year of India in Canada in 2011 and also invited to the UK for the UK Year of Literature and Writing in 1995.

    Two of Robin Ngangom’s poems, “A Poem for Mother” and “The Strange Affair of Robin S. Ngangom” are included in the Under-Graduate Programme of Delhi University, while one of his poems “When You do not Return” is part of the Under-Graduate Programme in Nagaland University.

    Sahitya Thoupang Lup, established in Nov. 25, 2003, is one of the most prominent literary bodies in Manipur. The Lup works for promotion of Manipuri language, literature, art and culture. It has been observing International Mother Language Day on Feb. 21, World Poetry Day on March 21 and International Translation Day on Sept. 30 every year.