The Manipur State Central Library located at Keishampat, Imphal West, will buy books written by authors of the state in 2024, official sources said.
“State Central Library has been trying to resume buying back the books written by the authors of the state… the books will be bought next year,” Lourembam Kishworjit, director of the Department of Art and Culture, said at a literary award function.
Kishworjit said the state share has already been given to Raja Rammuhon Roy Library Foundation (RRMLF), Kolkata.
The department failed to buy the books as RRMLF failed to provide the necessary state share due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, assuring that the books will be bought by next year.
It may be mentioned that, seemingly owing to the pandemic situation, the state dropped the annual Imphal Book Fair, an event organised every year mainly with the help of grants from the Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation, for the past two years.
However, an investigation by the Imphal Free Press published on June 28, 2022 highlighted the possibility of misappropriation of grants from the Centre. Read: Whiff of scandal in Manipur State Central Library
Meanwhile, the Arambam Ibungohal and Binodkumar Literary Award ceremony was organised by the Patriotic Writers Forum (PAWF) at Manipur Press Club, Imphal on Saturday. PAWF has been presenting the award to young writers below the age of 35.
The Arambam Ibungohal and Binodkumar Literary Award-2022 was presented to young writer, Wanglembam Niranjana. The award consists of a cash prize of Rs 5,000, a citation, a shawl and a memento.
Also Read: Young writer Wanglembam Niranjana bags Literary Award 2022
The award is donated in the name of Arambam Ibungohal and Binodkumari by their daughter Arambam Meme and her husband Dr Namaram Sharat since 2012.
Kishworjit lauded PAWF for giving a platform for young writers by presenting them with awards.
“This will lead to bringing out more creative writers of the state,” he added.
Super Fine, a poetry book by Toijam Bhogen, was also released at the event.
Patriotic Writers Forum, Manipur, president Naoroibam Khamba Luwang; Awang Sekmai Scheduled Caste Development Committee Secretary, Khwairakpam Ishwarchandra and EZCC, Kolkata, Ministry of Culture, member Thingbaijam Swarankumar attended the event as presidium members.
Also Read: Kanglei Ningol Enat Phijol Changdamnaba Award ceremony promotes Manipuri traditions
