‘We were very happy’ : Mother recalls slain musician Vikram Singh

The 86-year-old mother of slain Manipuri musician Chongtham Vikram Singh on Thursday recalled how, just days before his death following an assault in Delhi, her son had messaged her to share his happiness over his son’s good performance in semester exams.

Chongtham Kamala Devi, a legendary playback singer fondly known as the ‘Lata Mangeshkar of Manipur’, recalled her close bond with Vikram and how the two would often exchange messages about music, art and musical instruments.

“Three-four days before his death, he sent me a message saying that my grandson had achieved 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 also recalled the difficult days following Vikram’s death. The 54-year-old musician died on the day of Ekadashi, when his 95-year-old father, a deeply religious man, was observing a fast.

The family initially decided not to tell him about the death until after dinner. Instead, they told him that Vikram had been injured in an assault and was in the intensive care unit.

“The next morning, I woke up early and hid the newspaper so that his father didn't come across the news,” Devi said.

After breakfast, the family told Vikram’s father that his condition had deteriorated and that his chances of survival were slim. When they eventually told him about his death, he returned to his room and refused to eat, she said.

Devi said Vikram would regularly send her messages about songs, art and musical instruments.

“I have lost appetite since his death. I only ate some bananas,” she said.

Vikram’s brother Chongtham Tommy said the family was still awaiting the post-mortem report. He also thanked Delhi Police, other authorities and elected representatives for their assistance.

The family performed Vikram’s last rites on Wednesday evening after his mortal remains were flown to Imphal.

Vikram was allegedly beaten to death after objecting to noise from a dhaba outside his home in Delhi’s Kilokari area. Seven men have been arrested and a juvenile has been apprehended in connection with the case.

Vikram had lived in Kilokari for more than two decades. A well-known guitarist and musician, he was the lead guitarist of the Manipur rock band Phoenix in the early 1980s and later worked as a music teacher and performer in Delhi.