Padma Awardee Machihan Sasa calls on Manipur Chief Minister

IMPHAL — Manipur’s renowned potter Machihan Sasa from Nungbi (Longpi) village in Ukhrul district, who was in the list of 110 Padma Awardees announced on the eve of 75th Republic Day, called on Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in Imphal on Monday.

Manipur CM shared about the meeting along with a photograph on his X account.

“Padma Shri Awardee, Shri Machihan Sasa called on me at my residential office. I deeply appreciate and commend his lifelong dedication and commitment towards preserving the unique craft of Longpi pottery which is a rare form of making pottery without using the pottery wheel. He has shown the way towards conserving the rich culture and traditions of Manipur, and inspired others to follow his example. I wish him all the best for the future,” he wrote.

Padma Shri Awardee, Shri Machihan Sasa called on me at my residential office.

I deeply appreciate and commend his lifelong dedication and commitment towards preserving the unique craft of Longpi pottery which is a rare form of making pottery without using the pottery wheel.… pic.twitter.com/DgZjcq4oE3

— N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) January 29, 2024

Padma Award is one of the highest civilian awards of the country, given in various disciplines and fields of activities.

Born on April 10, 1950 in Nungbi, a village primarily driven by agriculture and traditional occupations, Sasa learned the art of pottery-making from his father Kuishim at the age of 20, and has been actively involved in crafting unique black stone pottery using a combination of ground black serpentine stone and special brown clay found exclusively in Longpi, since 1970.

He has emerged as a pioneer in the field of black stone pottery.

In the olden days, pottery making was confined to being a household activity with women being the chief creators, but the art was gradually replaced by other occupations with time and industrialisation.

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