Mizo singer’s journey from local church to Padma Shri

KC Runremsangi of Mizoram, who received the Padma Shri this year in the folk music category traces her musical journey that won her the award – in her own words.

The feeling of being chosen for the prestigious Padma Shri award is yet to sink in. 

I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard the news of such an honour since I started my journey from a small village in Mizoram before gaining success. 

I was born in a poor family and my father was a farmer in a remote Keitum village in Serchhip district, located around 120 kilometres from Aizawl, Mizoram’s capital. 

We were eight children – three boys and five girls. I was the fifth child.  

Since childhood I loved singing and my parents always supported me in my passion. 

When I was just 12, I used to sing in a local church. It gave me happiness and a divine connection. 

Soon I decided to transform my hobby into a passion and shifted to Aizawl at the age of 20. 

I released my first audio album of Mizo folk songs in 1986. I was just 23 then. The songs became very popular and there was no looking back. 

People began to invite me for their cultural events. Even candidates of political parties started calling me for their hustings. 

I soon became a known face in Mizoram folk songs circuit. 

I got a job in the art and culture department of the state government in 1992.  

Even at that young age I began to teach folk songs to the youth across the state for free. 

At that time our cultural songs were not very popular, but slowly people began listening to them.  

I got married to Lalthanmawia, a government school teacher in 2003 and he has been fully supportive of my passion. 

We are training over 100 students now from across the state in folk songs.  

I have released eight albums of 90 Mizo songs so far. 

I also have the distinction of being the only woman to have been conferred with Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2017 by Ram Nath Kovind, the former president for my contribution to the field of music.  

Despite my hectic schedule, I continue to practise music in the morning and evening every day.  

I travel to remote areas looking for talent and then training them in our folk songs.

The awards fill me with a fresh energy and passion to work stronger for our community and help our younger generation stay connected with our roots by training them in Mizo folk songs. 

I wish to give back to society as much as I can till I am alive.  

When people call me the Queen of Mizo folk songs it makes me proud.