Dr. Sohini Ray, a distinguished Manipuri dancer and scholar, has been awarded the prestigious Tagore National Scholarship by the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, becoming the third recipient in Manipuri arts and the first woman to achieve this honor. Previously awarded to Guru Ranjit Adhikarimayum and filmmaker Bobby Wahngbam, this scholarship represents one of the highest recognitions in cultural research in India. Dr. Ray was identified as a child prodigy by Guru Bipin Singh at age seven and notably performed drumming at ten. Her accolades include the ‘Shringar Mani’ award, first prize in Manipuri dance at the State Youth festival of West Bengal, and the highly competitive National Cultural Talent scholarship by the Government of India.
A versatile artist, she is the director of Manipuri Dance Visions in Los Angeles and has received numerous awards, including the Lester Horton Award in 2008 for her production “Gita Govinda.” Her multimedia project “Bhaktirasgi Mangal Khonjel: Sounds and Lights of Devotion” was even shortlisted for the Margaret Mead Award. Dr. Ray obtained her Ph.D. in anthropology from UCLA, focusing on the cultural history of Meitei Mayek, while also contributing to the academic field by introducing Manipuri dance into the curricula at NYU and UCLA. She continues to honor her roots through extensive research and teaching in Manipur, working to preserve and promote the legacy of her late guru.
