Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi

Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi danced Manipuri on some of the world’s great stages, including the Bolshoi Theatre, and spent her later years teaching it. She was named for the Padma Shri in 2025 in the field of art, from Manipur ^[1].

Training

Suryamukhi Devi was born in 1935 and began as a child actor in theatre ^[2]. She learned Manipuri dance from Guru Maisnam Amubi Singh and other masters, worked with choreographers including Narendra Sharma, and also trained in Mayurbhanj Chhau ^[2].

Across the world

In 1954, as a member of India’s cultural delegation, she toured the Soviet Union and Europe, dancing at the Bolshoi Theatre ^[2]. Tours of China, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines followed, and with the Little Ballet Troupe she performed at the 1968 Mexico Olympics cultural programme ^[2]. At the Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Tagore centenary in 1961, she danced in the Manipuri dance-drama Chitrangada ^[2].

Later, with the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipuri Dance Academy’s ballet unit, she worked on productions including Keibul Lamjao, which won awards at the London International Festival of Theatre ^[2].

Teacher

In 1984 she founded the Research Centre for Manipuri Performing Arts, where she taught classical solo dance in the guru-shishya tradition ^[2].

Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi died at her home in Imphal on 29 June 2025 ^[3]. Too unwell to attend the Padma ceremony, she had received the award at home ^[3].