Shillong: Silbi Passah, a resident of Riatsamthiah, Shillong, Meghalaya, was conferred with the Padma Shri in the field of Art by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, during a Civil Investiture Ceremony held in New Delhi on Thursday.
Passah, a retired Hindi teacher, has been recognised for her significant contributions to the field of art and education. She has served as a resource person for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and the Directorate of Educational Research & Training (DERT), while also assisting the State Council of Educational Research & Training (SCERT) in training teachers in various disciplines including Art and Craft, Acting, Dancing, and Singing. Her expertise lies in socially useful, productive work (SUPW) and Music. Additionally, Passah has received training from the Institute of Khasi Jaintia Folk songs and Traditional Musical Instruments.
Born on March 3, 1952, Passah pursued her Bachelor’s degree in Hindi (Kovid) and began her teaching career at the Khasi Jaintia National Government Upper Primary School, Mawkhar, Shillong in 1982. She has actively promoted the Hindi language, participating in the Radio Programme “Hindi Lesson” broadcasted by All India Radio Shillong (AIRS). In 2005, she was deputed to the Central Institute of Hindi (Agra) for the preparation of Hindi-Khasi Contrastive Grammar.
Passah’s dedication to promoting music and culture in Meghalaya is noteworthy. Through collaborations with the department of art and culture and the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), Passah and her troupe have participated in various cultural festivals across the country, including those organized by the South Zone Cultural Centre, South West Zone Cultural Centre, and West Zone.
These platforms have provided her with opportunities to showcase Meghalaya’s rich cultural heritage. Notably, Passah made history as the first Khasi woman to produce the Hindi Skit titled “Hindi Bhasha Hamari Rashtra Bhasha Hai,” which was telecast on Doordarshan Kendra Shillong. Her troupe also presented traditional dance forms at the “Adi Shaurya Parv Parakram ka” event in 2023.
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