Neelamani Devi

Neelamani Devi

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Category: Art

Neelamani Devi Profile

  • Name:
  • Neelamani Devi
  • Born:
  • September 1, 1938
  • Father:
  • Kharaibam Devasingh Singh
  • Mother:
  • Kharaibam Ongbi Sanajaobi

Neelamani Devi Biography

Neelamani Devi is an Indian craftswoman and master potter who hails from Manipur. A Padma Shri recipient some of her works were featured in the iconic TV series on Doordarshan, Mahabharata in the early 1990s. She is also a recipient of numerous awards including Tulsi Samman Award, National Award for Master Craftsman, Samaj Kalyan Seva award and Lions Karmayogi Award. A living legend in the field of pottery art, her professional life has been documented by Mani Kaul and Aribam Syam Sharma namely Mittee aur Manab and Nilamani: Master Potter of Manipur.

 

Neelamani Devi was born as the daughter of Kharaibam Devasingh Singh and Kharaibam Ongbi Sanajaobi on 1 September 1938. She hails from Thongjao Keithel Leikai, Thoubal District, present-day Manipur. Neelamani learnt the early lessons of pottery making from her mother. She lost both her parents during childhood. Later she continued learning pottery art with sponsorship from the Khadi and Gram Udyog Mandal. She trained from different places and completed her studies in 1960. Though she started off her career as a demonstrator at the Directorate of Industries of the Government of Manipur, she left the job and returned to her village.

 

She started Pottery Training Cum Production Centre in 1966, under which she trained numerous women of her neighbourhood and also helped them to earn their livelihoods. Devi also exhibited her works in India and abroad, and has travelled extensively for this purpose. She also participated in exhibitions and demonstrations at several places in Japan. Apart from Indian TV series, Mahabharata, her pottery creations were also featured in a French TV series with the same name.

 

She received National Award for Master Craftsman in 1986, and government of India honoured her with Padma Shri. She owns a clear understanding of the conventional techniques of preparing the clay, giving shape and pattern to pots as well as setting up the kiln and firing the ware.

Published: January 28, 2019

Updated: January 28, 2019

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