Chongtham Vikram Singh was a gifted guitarist who had spent decades making music his language.
NEW DELHI: Chongtham Vikram Singh, a 55-year-old Manipuri musician, was allegedly beaten to death outside his Delhi home on Sunday night after he went downstairs to object to a group of men creating a ruckus. He played lead guitar for several bands in Manipur before moving to Delhi nearly 20 years ago, where he built a life around his passion for music. His mother, 86-year-old Chongtham Ongbi Kamala Devi, is a renowned classical and modern Manipuri singer.
Singh was a gifted guitarist who had spent decades making music his language. A resident of Thangmeiband Lourung Purel Leikai in Imphal West, Singh later established a music school in Delhi, mentored students from home and also taught at the Delhi School of Music. His musical journey included the Rock’n’Roots project, through which he collaborated with Rajasthani folk singer Mame Khan. He also worked with several other renowned musicians for cultural shows and concerts. Singh came from a family with a strong musical legacy. Singh was also a cousin of Lakshmipriya Devi, director of Boong, India’s first BAFTA Award-winning film.