Shillong, August 12 : The 8th Riti Academy Annual Award Ceremony was held at Raj Bhavan, where five outstanding personalities were honoured with the prestigious awards. The Governor of Meghalaya, C. H. Vijayashankar, graced the occasion as Chief Guest, alongside F. R. Kharkongor, IAS, Principal Secretary, Arts and Culture, and Dr. B. D. R. Tiwari, IAS, Commissioner and Secretary to the Governor.
In his interaction with the awardees, the Governor commended Riti Academy for its dedicated efforts in recognising and celebrating deserving young talents of the state. He praised the gesture of honouring excellence across diverse fields and urged collective responsibility in guiding the youth towards positive engagement. Expressing concern over the growing menace of drug abuse, early marriage, and HIV among the younger generation, he stressed the urgent need for constructive avenues to channel their potential.
The awardees of the evening were:
Dr. Mebanlamphang Lyngdoh – Rana Kharkongor Award for Excellence in Music and Literature
Rangkitbok C. Dohkrut – S Quotient Sume Award for Excellence in Literature
Kyrmenlang Uriah – Sumar Sing Sawian Award for Excellence in Media
Ram Kymjin – Prithpal Singh Sehdev Award for Excellence in Visual Arts
Ricky Paul Marwein – Crystal Gayle Kharnaior Award for Excellence in Digital Arts
The awards were presented by the Governor in the presence of Raphael Warjri, Chairman of Riti Academy, F. R. Kharkongor, Dr. B. D. R. Tiwari, and family partners of the celebrated luminaries in whose names the awards are instituted.
In his keynote address, Raphael Warjri paid tribute to the late Satyapal Malik, recalling him as the dignitary who had conferred the State Award upon him and had advocated for the Academy to be provided with proper premises. Warjri expressed gratitude to the Government for its support through various commissioned artworks and for facilitating the Academy’s year-round participation in art activities. He also thanked the Governor for personally sponsoring a cash incentive of ₹11,000 for each awardee.
The ceremony concluded with a heartfelt tribute song by Dalariti G. Kharnaior in memory of her late sister, Crystal Gayle Kharnaior, on the anniversary of her passing eight years ago.
