Ulaanbaatar
Nikkei Asia Prize to be awarded to D.Sosorbaram
Art & CultureUlaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ A Mongolian actor D.Sosorbaram has been selected as one of the laureates of the Nikkei Asia Prize 2016, the Nikkei.com website published Saturday.
The Mongolian actor is to receive the prize in the culture and community category.
Dogmid Sosorbaram was born in 1958 into a nomadic family in southern central Mongolia. As a child, he passed many hours sitting astride his horse and singing songs while he watched the moon. This experience instilled in him a love of Mongolian music that would eventually set him on the path of political activist.
As a university student, Sosorbaram majored in theatrical performance. He graduated in 1982 and joined the national theater as an actor. But Mongolia at the time was a satellite of the Soviet Union, and Sosorbaram was forced to perform in dramas praising socialism. "I was tired," he recalled.
His desire for freedom of expression spurred him to join the burgeoning fight for democratization.
Sosorbaram was a key figure in the pro-democracy movement, which gathered steam in 1989. Reciting poems and singing songs at political rallies, he played an important role in unifying opposition parties into the currently governing Democratic Party.
Sosorbaram served as opening speaker at the party's first national convention in February 1990. The country peacefully transitioned to a democratic system the following month.
While many of his fellow pro-democracy campaigners went on to become political leaders, Sosorbaram has returned to the field of arts. "I would lose my soul as a human being if I stepped away from the things I love," he said.
In recent years, Sosorbaram has been working to pass on Mongolia's traditional arts to the younger generation. The Domog folk band, led by Sosorbaram, won the Grand Prix at the 2013 World Championship of Folklore in Bulgaria and he was given the title of "maestro."
His interest in politics, however, has not waned. Appearing on a talk show in early April, he chided Mongolia's leaders, saying, "There are more and more politicians who do not think about the future."
Well-versed in both culture and politics, Sosorbaram is keeping a close eye on where his beloved country is heading.
The Nikkei Asia Prizes recognize individuals and organizations that make outstanding contributions to Asia's development. This year, the prizes have been awarded to two individuals and a foundation for supporting education by nourishing children, researching innovative materials and promoting democracy.
