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Manipur is called the “jewel of India” for its scenic beauty and also because of the famous personalities of Manipur. From Mary Kom, the boxing queen to the Iron Lady of Manipur Irom Chanu Sharmila, these people have conquered heights of success in fields such as sports, activism, cinema, literature, and art. These individuals have not only made Manipur proud but have also garnered respect across India and the world. Let us talk about more of such personalities in this blog and get to know their inspiring journey!
Table of Contents
List of Famous Personalities of Manipur
The famous personalities of Manipur have one thing in common, they all came from a place that was mostly unheard of, yet they made their name through hard work, dedication and precision. Let us get to know these personalities in detail below –
| Name | Field | Achievements |
| MC Mary Kom | Boxing | 6-time World Champion, Olympic Bronze Medalist |
| Dingko Singh | Boxing | Asian Games Gold Medalist, Arjuna Award, Padma Shri |
| Irom Chanu Sharmila | Activism | Known for the world’s longest hunger strike |
| Bijou Thaangjam | Cinema/Television | Actor, Art Director, Entrepreneur |
| M Kirti Singh | Literature, Education | Padma Shri, Bharat Excellence Award |
| Saikhom Mirabai Chanu | Weightlifting | Olympic Silver Medalist, World Champion |
| Sarita Devi | Boxing | Arjuna Awardee, World Champion |
| Kunjarani Devi | Weightlifting | Arjuna Awardee, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardee |
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MC Mary Kom – The Boxing Queen
Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom also lovingly called Mary Kom, is one of India’s greatest boxers. Born in Churachandpur, Manipur, she made history by becoming the only female boxer to win a medal in every World Championship. She gained international recognition with her gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
| Achievement | Year | Notes |
| Olympic Bronze Medal | 2012 | London Olympics |
| Gold Medal, Commonwealth Games | 2018 | Made history for India |
| Padma Shri | 2006 | Government of India |
| Padma Bhushan | 2013 | Government of India |
| Padma Vibhushan | 2020 | Second-highest civilian award in India |
Mary Kom’s boxing journey began in 2000 under the coach, K Kosana Meitei, and she has since gone on to inspire millions through her perseverance, passion, and achievements.
Dingko Singh – India’s most volatile pugilist
Ngangom Dingko Singh was an Olympic winner in Indian boxing who brought pride to the country with his gold medal at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok. His contributions to Indian boxing are recognised and was honoured with the Arjuna Award and Padma Shri. Unfortunately, Dingko Singh passed away in 2021 after a battle with cancer.
| Achievement | Year | Notes |
| Gold Medal, Asian Games | 1998 | Bangkok |
| Arjuna Award | 1998 | For excellence in boxing |
| Padma Shri | 2013 | For his contribution to Indian sports |
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Irom Chanu Sharmila – Iron Lady of Manipur
Known as the “Iron Lady of Manipur,” Irom Chanu Sharmila is a poet and a social activist who is famous for her 16-year-long hunger strike, the longest in world history. She protested against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Manipur, seeking its repeal due to its human rights violations. Irom’s selfless activism and tireless fight for justice have earned her global respect.
| Achievement | Year | Notes |
| World’s Longest Hunger Strike | 2000–2016 | Protest against AFSPA |
| Gwangju Prize for Human Rights | 2007 | For her fight for justice |
| Poet and Author | – | Unbind Me and When the Curtains Go Up |
Bijou Thaangjam – Jack of All Trades
Bijou Thaangjam is originally named Thangjam Biju Singh. He is a versatile actor, chef, and entrepreneur from Manipur. He gained fame through his appearances in films like Mary Kom and Shivaay and various television series and web shows. Bijou is also known for his creative talents as an art director and lyricist.
| Achievement | Famous Work |
| Actor | Mary Kom (2014), Shivaay (2016), Jgga Jasoos, etc. |
| Web Series Actor | The Test Case, Typewriter, etc |
| Nominated for Art Director | III Smoking Barrels |
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M Kirti Singh – The Academician from Manipur
Moirangthem Kirti Singh is an Indian educationist, scholar and writer from Manipur. He is known for his in-depth studies of Meitei culture and history. He became the first person from Manipur to be awarded a PhD and DLitt too.
| Achievement | Year | Works |
| Padma Shri | 1992 | For his contribution to literature |
| Bharat Excellence Award | 1998 | For his work in Meiteilogy |
| Famous Books | – | Religion and Culture of Manipur, The Folk Culture of Manipur, The philosophy of Organism, etc |
Do Read about – Saikhom Mirabai Chanu: Indian Weightlifting Champion
Famous People of Manipur in Different Fields
We cannot forget to name these personalities too, without mentioning them, this blog will be incomplete and will be an injustice to these great people. Hence, some of the famous personalities of Manipur from different fields are –
| Famous People from Manipur | Field of Work | Contributions/Achievements |
| Saikhom Mirabai Chanu | Weightlifting | Olympic Silver Medalist, World Champion |
| Sarita Devi | Boxing | Arjuna Awardee, World Champion |
| Kunjarani Devi | Weightlifting | Multiple international medals |
| Aribam Syam Sharma | Film and Music | National Award-winning filmmaker |
| Guru Kalavati Devi | Dance | Manipuri classical dancer |
| Lin Laishram | Acting | Popular actor and model |
| Bala Hijam | Cinema | Renowned Manipuri film actress |
| Ningombam Bupenda Meitei | Writer, Philosopher | Writer and thinker from Manipur |
FAQs
Some of the famous personalities of Manipur are – MC Mary Kom, Lin Laishram, Bala Hijam, Dingko Singh, Mirabai Chanu, etc.
Bir Tikendrajit is the hero of the Manipur revolution of 1891.
Nongthombam Biren Singh is one of the famous leaders of Manipur and also the Chief Minister of Manipur.
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This was all about the famous personalities of Manipur. If you want to know more about other Famous Personalities then visit our General Knowledge page!