Nine awards for region

New Delhi, Jan. 25 (PTI): Nine personalities from the Northeast have been selected, including two posthumously, for this year’s Padma awards.

North Eastern Council member Inderjit Kaur Barthakur from Meghalaya has been selected for the Padma Bhushan for her services in public affairs. She was awarded Padmashree in 1992.

Eight persons have been named for the Padmashree — Assam’s Tafazzul Ali (posthumously for art) and Birendranath Datta (literature and education); Norden Tshering (literature and education) and Keepu Tshering Lepcha (social work) from Sikkim; Skendrowell Syiemlieh (posthumous, art) from Meghalaya; Manipuri playwright Gurumayum Gourakishor Sharma (art), Lalthangfala Sailo (literature and education) from Mizoram and former Nagaland MP K. Asungba Sangma (public affairs).

Lyricist and music director Ali, who died last year, had over 1,000 compositions to his credit.

He also scored music for Assam’s mobile theatres.

Datta, an eminent folklore scholar, was the president of Asam Sahitya Sabha.

Lepcha, a retired civil servant, works for socio-economic uplift of the Lepcha community.

Folk singer Syiemlieh, who got the award posthumously, rendered his voice in the first Khasi film. Sailo is a writer, poet, essayist and playwright, whose works are taught at Gauhati University.