UKHRUL: Sonan Ngakang of Ringui village in Manipur’s Ukhrul district became the first Tangkhul woman ichthyologist with a PhD.
Sonan Ngakang, daughter of Chihanpam Ngakang and Chanlungla, successfully earned her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Fisheries Economics from Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University.
Ngakang began her academic journey at the College of Fisheries, Tripura, under the Central Agricultural University, Imphal. She later pursued her postgraduate studies at Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University, where her dedication and consistent hard work helped her secure the top position in the Department of Fisheries Economics.
For her outstanding achievement, she was awarded the prestigious Indian Overseas Bank Gold Medal (2021).
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Her accomplishments marked historic milestones for the Tangkhul community. as she became the first Tangkhul woman to earn a PhD in Fisheries Science. She was also the first Tangkhul to qualify for the 4-year Bachelor’s Degree in Fisheries Science conducted by the Department of Fisheries, Manipur (2013).
Beyond academics, Ngakang has contributed meaningfully to research and scholarship. She has published two scientific research papers, presented her work at the 12th Indian Fisheries & Aquaculture Forum (2022), and had a research paper accepted at the International Conference of Asian Pacific Aquaculture, Singapore (2022).
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