The founder

Born of an experienced rural elder with extensive travels in the hills of Manipur as well as the Kabo valleys of Myanmar, Mayanglambam Gourchandra imbibed a thirst for travel and exploration from a tender age. His unquenchable interest into the very nature of man and the unique cultural history of Manipur led him into various fields of human enterprise. After nearly two decades of excavations, explorations, collecting artifacts, travelling and learning under odd conditions, he was able to establish the first rural museum of Manipur, the Peoples’ Museum, Kakching, singlehandedly in 1981.

In the 1960s he studied the archaic Meitei manuscripts under the tutelage of various prominent traditional gurus like Rajkumar Priyogopalsana, Chongtham Hera (Meitei storyteller) and Sallungpham Kala Samjetsabam (custodian of Meitei Manuscripts) and Thokchom Thokachanba. He came to associate very closely with renown scholars like Naorem Amuyaima ( Pandit Achouba of Pandit Loishang), Padmashree Ningthoukongjam Khelchandra, and Rajkumar Sanahal B.Com, Ch. Manihar Singh (formerly head of Manipuri Department, Assam University, Silchar), who helped him expand his horizon.   

In all the vicissitude of his personal as well as social life and the lack of financial aid his spirit, to preserve and rejuvenate the culture heritage of Manipur, never wavered. Today Peoples’ Museum, Kakching prides over an incredible collection of pre-historic tools, tribal ornaments, Manipuri coins, rare manuscripts, tools, implements, pottery and various artifacts from almost all the communities of Manipur.  And now it is only appropriate to give due recognition to this wonderful man whose activities have not only contributed a lot towards the preservation of the cultural heritage of this nation, but he himself has become a great repository of folk culture.      

Fellowships:

1.    Senior Fellow of Manipur State Kala Academy from 1979 to 1981.

2.    Senior Fellow of Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Culture, from 1987 to 1990.

3.    Senior Fellow of Government of India, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Department of Culture from 1998 to 2000.

4.    Senior Fellow of  Government of India, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Department of Culture from April 2007 to March 2009.

Publications:

He has authored nineteen books including transliteration of  archaic Meitei texts: Leimaren Sekning (1975), Khamoi Yamoi (1975), Khamlang Pawari Ahuiron (1977), Thawan Thaba Hiran (1978), Shal Kao (1978), Nongkhrang (1980), Ariba Meiteigi Sheitha (1981), Sanamahi Laihui (1982), Birbahu Tuba (1984), Erat Thounirol (1988), Yakeiron (1988), Meitei Kangleiron (1989), Chandragantha (1990), Ariba Meiteilongi Ramayana (1991), Kwatha Chingda Taba Meitei Khun (1995), Manipurda Yotshung Yotsha (1997), Meitrabakki Puwarida Kakching (2002), Lamitlon (2003) and Monograph on Ritual Hymns and Chants of Manipur as sources of information on Medicinal Plants (2006).