IMPHAL, Jan 18 � Manipur�s popular writer and descendent of the Royal family, Kumari Binodini passed away last night after prolonged illness at her residence here.
Her last rites was held this morning in the presence of her admirers and family members. The youngest daughter of the late Maharaj Sir Churachand Singh and Maharani Dhanamanjuri, she was 89. She is survived by two sons � Debabrata and Somi.
She was born in 1922 at Manipur�s Royal Palace. She received her early education with tutors followed by formal education at Pine Mount School and St Marys� College in Shillong though education for girls during those days was a taboo.
After completing her studies from Vishwabharati University, MK Binodini returned to Manipur and wrote some of the best known novels including �Asangba Nongjabee�, �Amasung Indrajit�, �Nungairakta Chandramukhi�, �Ho Mexico�and �Boro Saheb Ongbi Sanatombi� besides scripts for several popular Manipuri films.
She received many awards including Padmashree. As Secretary of Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy in 70�s and 80�s, she went to Mexico, USA, Canada, Germany and France in 1976 leading troupe of dancers.
�Imagi Ningthem�, a film for which she wrote the script, received the Grand Prix at the Festival des Trois Continentes at Nantes, France. �Eshanou� participated in the International Film Festival at Cannes. All the movies were entered in the Indian Panorama and bagged national awards.
Dozens of her songs were broadcast on radio. Her ballet �Sangai� received international accolades for its conservation message and was later filmed by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.