Thounaojam Chaoba Singh

Thounaojam Chaoba Singh is a politician from Manipur who has been in public life since 1969, as a five-term member of the state assembly, a three-term member of the Lok Sabha and a minister in both the state and the Union governments. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2023 in the field of public affairs, from Manipur ^[1].

Teacher and actor

Chaoba Singh was born on 10 May 1937 ^[2]. After studying commerce at D. M. College, Imphal, he became a teacher ^[2]. He also acted in Manipuri theatre, playing roles such as Arjuna in productions of the Mahabharata and winning best actor awards ^[2]. In 1956 he helped found the Public Theatre Artistes Association, which he has chaired since 1978 ^[2].

In the assembly and Parliament

He entered public life in 1969, working on village projects such as digging ponds and building playgrounds, and on jobs for the Kabui community in his constituency ^[2]. He was first elected to the Manipur assembly in 1972 and won five times in a row ^[2]. He was deputy speaker in 1974, a minister of state from 1977, a cabinet minister from 1980 and deputy chief minister from 1994 ^[2].

He was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1996, 1998 and 1999, and under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee held junior ministerial charge of sports and youth affairs, culture, and food processing ^[2]. He was also president of the BJP in Manipur from 2000 to 2003 and from 2013 to 2016 ^[2].

Farming and heritage

In 1965 he set up the Utlou Joint Farming Cooperative Society, and he helped establish the Krishi Vigyan Kendra for Bishnupur district in 2002 and an agricultural institute in the district in 2017, which he chairs ^[2]. He has also worked to preserve the historic palace compound in Manipur known as Konung Lampak ^[2].