Mizoram’s 9-year-old singing sensation, Esther Hnamte, receives the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2025

9-year-old singing sensation Esther Lalduhawmi Hnamte, from Mizoram's Lunglei, has received the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2025 in the Art & Culture category from President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on December 26. 

She is one of 20 awardees from 18 states. Startup Pedia contacted her family to congratulate her and learn more about Mizoram’s musically gifted daughter.

Esther began singing at a mere age of three on local church stages before attaining nationwide fame.

She captivated millions with viral renditions of “Vande Mataram” (praised by PM Modi in 2020), AR Rahman’s “Maa Tujhe Salaam,” and a 56-million-view “Jana Gana Mana” collaboration with Assam Rifles in 2021.

Mizoram Governor Vijay Kumar Singh described her as a symbol of “national pride and cultural harmony,” while her mother expressed gratitude, saying that “many other children deserve such recognition.”

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Who is Esther Hnamte?

Esther Hnamte is the youngest of the two children of Lalrinenga Hnamte, a former taxi driver, and R. Lalawmpui, a homemaker.

In an exclusive interview with Startup Pedia, her family told us that little Esther loves chocolates and books apart from music. 

“She was an energetic child from the beginning!” her uncle told us proudly.

Being academically inclined, Esther wants to become a doctor when she grows up. “I would be a doctor and a musician,” tells Esther.

She inherited her musical interest from her family. As she was born with a high-pitched voice, people commented that she was going to be a good singer.

As a native of Mizo, Hnamte does not speak other language but started to memorise Hindi and English songs by repeated singing with her friends.

Her breakthrough collaboration in 2021 with the Assam Rifles, singing “Jana Gana Mana,” has since got over 56 million YouTube views.

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Dressed in an army uniform at the age of five, the nine-year-old stood shoulder to shoulder with soldiers, her pure voice evoking goosebumps and tears across India.

In 2021, Esther received the Amul Girl honour and a Young Achievers Award from Dalmia Cement, alongside special appreciation from former Mizoram Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai.

In 2024, at the Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav, she performed before gifting Prime Minister Modi a traditional “Poorvi” doll, a gesture blending cultural pride with personal admiration.

Incidentally, the documentary, “A Star is Born,” chronicling her journey, bagged the Best Documentary (Silver) award at the 2023 Northeast Film Festival.

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