Correspondent
BOKAJAN, Sept 18: Chandrasing Lekthe, a renowned sculptor, died this morning around 09:30 a.m. due to old age. He was the Karbi community’s man of the era due to his remarkable hand craftsmanship, which ranged from crafting knives to various Karbi traditional music instruments. CEM Dr. Tuliram Ronghang also presented him with the ‘Khorsing Terang Award’ for his outstanding knowledge of traditional music and songs during the KAAC Foundation Day 2021 at Langkung Habe Town Hall.
Speaking on the life history, he had a strong attachment to his culture, having mastered oral traditional music and folktales. Despite his age, he has demonstrated his talent for the past 20 years at the annual Karbi Youth Festival (KYF), including singing and playing traditional instruments.
Lt. Chandrasing Lekthe was born to Lt. Nambor Lekthe and Lt. Sumpi Engtipi on April 30, 1949, in Arnamlankpi (Upper Deopani). Later, he shifted to Hanjanglangso for further studies and grew there.
The legend was appointed to the Irrigation Department and then married Maniki Singnarpi in 1960. Nareswar Lekthe, Indira Lekthepi, Korona Lekthepi, Kt. Maloti Lekthepi, and Lt. Kaku (Kolpona) Lekthepi are among his two sons and three daughters.
Soon after, his wife Maniki Singnarpi died, and he remarried to Banre Terangpi, with whom he had a son Pitor Lekthe. He spent his final days in his son Nareswar Lekthe’s home in Hanjanglangso’s Kamala Kanta Bey village, near High Mountain English School, leaving behind his two sons, two daughters, and son-in-law.