Shillong, August 14: In commemoration of the First Death Anniversary of Crystal Gayle Kharnaior, Riti Academy has institute an award in her memory to recognise and acknowledge the excellence in various works of creative expression.
The simple ceremony at Mad Gallery was graced by Mr K N Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Meghalaya, in the presence of Most Rev Dominic Jala, Archbishop of Shillong Arch-diocese, Mr P S Dkhar, Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills and eminent filmmaker, Dominic Sangma.
In his address K N Kumar recalled his emotional encounter with the situation, he said ‘I was informed by my staff at Raj Bhavan about the mishap and rush to the spot; then I tried to help the victims including Crystal Gayle. She happened to be the one who had struggled the most, and along with the Raj Bhavan staff we had tried to save her but the tree was so huge, that it was not possible.
This is the reason that I am deeply touched that I could not help, even as she was still alive and struggled’. Further, Kumar lauded the effort of Riti Academy and appreciated the gesture of recognising talents among the youth through awards with incentive. The Award was formally declared by the Deputy Commissioner and conferred upon Skhemlang Hynniewta by the Additional Chief Secretary, K N Kumar and Archbishop Rev Dominic Jala.
The award is slated to be an annual affair with consecutive presentation on excellence of the various activities of the Academy. The First Crystal Gayle Kharnaior Memorial Award was given for excellence in visual art, while the successive honours in the following years shall subsequently acknowledge distinction in performing arts like theatre, music and dance, in film and literature and other visual arts discipline like sculpture, graphic design and photography.
Earlier during the day, the Archbishop, Most Rev Dominic Jala blessed the statue of literary genius, Rev Sylvanus Sngi Lyngdoh. The statue is the sculpture done by Skhemlang Hynniewta under the guidance and supervision of Riti Academy. The making of the statue is an initiative of Riti Academy as a tribute to Rev Fr Sngi Lyngdoh for his outstanding contribution to theology, culture and Khasi literature.
