IMPHAL, Sept 10: The mother of slain Manipuri musician Chongtham Vikram Singh on Thursday recalled a message he sent her days before his death, sharing his happiness over his son’s strong performance in his semester examinations.
Chongtham Kamala Devi, 86, a veteran playback singer popularly known as the ‘Lata Mangeshkar of Manipur’, said the message was among her last conversations with her 54-year-old son.
“Three-four days before his death, he sent me a message saying that my grandson had scored high marks in his semester exams and would receive awards. We were very happy,” Devi told PTI at her residence in Thangmeiband, Imphal West.
She said she and Vikram often exchanged messages about music, art, songs and musical instruments, sharing a close interest in the arts.
The family found it difficult to inform Vikram’s 95-year-old father about his death. Devi said Vikram died on Ekadashi, when his father was fasting.
“We decided to tell him after dinner, but we could not. We told him Vikram had been injured in an assault and was in the ICU,” she said.
The following morning, Devi hid the newspaper so that her husband would not learn about the death from news reports. She said the family later told him indirectly that Vikram’s condition had deteriorated before informing him of his death.
“He returned to his room and refused to eat,” she said, adding that she herself had struggled to eat since losing her son.
Vikram’s brother Chongtham Tommy said the family was awaiting the post-mortem report. He said Delhi Police, the authorities concerned and elected representatives had been helpful.
Vikram’s last rites were performed in Imphal on Wednesday evening after his mortal remains were brought back from Delhi.
Vikram was allegedly beaten to death after objecting to noise from a dhaba outside his home in Delhi’s Kilokari area. Seven men were arrested and a juvenile was also apprehended in connection with the case.
Vikram had lived in Kilokari for more than two decades. He was a prominent guitarist and lead guitarist of the Manipuri rock band Phoenix in the early 1980s. He later worked as a music teacher and performer in Delhi.
