Who was Chongtham Vikram Singh?

For many of us, the name Chongtham Vikram Singh may have come back into public attention because of the tragic incident in Delhi. But Vikram was much more than the circumstances of his death. He was a musician, a guitarist and one of the people who was part of the early rock music movement in Manipur.

Coming from Thangmeiband Lourung Purel Leikai, Vikram started his musical journey at a time when rock music was still finding its place in Manipur. He began with Ultra Vires and later became the lead guitarist of Phoenix, a band remembered as one of the influential names in Manipur’s rock scene during the 1980s. He was also associated with Eastern Dark.

Those were very different times. There was no social media to promote a band, no easy way to record and distribute music, and very few platforms for young musicians to showcase their talent. Musicians had to build their own spaces, find their own audiences and keep the music alive. Vikram belonged to that generation.

According to people who knew and worked with him, he was not someone who constantly looked for the spotlight. His contribution was often quiet and behind the scenes. But that does not make it any less important. Every music scene is built not only by the people standing at the centre of the stage, but also by musicians who spend years playing, practising, supporting one another and helping shape the sound of their generation.

Vikram also came from a family deeply connected with Manipur’s art and culture.

He was the son of Chongtham Kamala, one of the most respected voices in Manipuri classical and playback singing. Kamala lent her voice to Matamgi Manipur in 1972, the first Manipuri feature film, and went on to make a lasting contribution to Manipuri music and cinema.

Vikram was also the cousin of filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi, director of Boong, a film that brought Manipur’s story and talent to a much wider audience.

So when we remember Chongtham Vikram Singh, we are remembering a person who was part of a much larger cultural journey of Manipur, a family and a generation that contributed to music, cinema and the arts in their own ways.

His life should not be remembered only through the tragic circumstances of his final days. It should also be remembered through the music he played, the bands he was part of, the people he influenced and the cultural space he helped create.

Rest in peace, Vikram

May his family find strength, and may his contribution to Manipur’s music history continue to be remembered by generations to come.