ITANAGAR, Jun 1: The Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society (APLS) has conferred the 2nd ‘Luminous Lummer Dai Literary Award’ on noted journalist-turned-author-poet Mamang Dai for her outstanding contributions to the world of literature.

Instituted after the name of great luminary Lummer Dai, the prestigious award comprising a specially designed trophy, a citation and a cash award of Rs 10,000, was presented to Mamang Dai by APLS president Y D Thongchi on the occasion of late novelist Dai’s 77th birth anniversary at his Prem Nagar, Naharlagun residence today.

Paying his rich tributes to ‘Sahitya Surya’ Lummer Dai, the APLS president Thongchi, while citing the popularity the late novelist got from Assam, remarked that there are very few people who are remembered after death and he (late Dai) is the only person from Arunachal Pradesh after whom an award has been instituted.

The Sahitya Akademi awardee also mentioned that he drew inspiration for writing from none other than Lummer Dai during his college life. The APLS president, meanwhile, informed that the Assam Sahitya Sabha, as a part of its centenary celebration, is going to confer the ‘Lummer Dai Bota’ on another woman writer, Dr Tilottoma Misra in an Itanagar function tomorrow.

In her acceptance speech, Mamang Dai, also the recipient of State Verrier Elwin Award for her non-fiction work ‘Arunachal Pradesh: The Hidden Land’, said, “I am very deeply honoured to APLS for conferring me this award instituted after the great novelist Lummer Dai.”

She also paid tributes to late Dai, who became a household name in Assam for his immense contributions to the field of Assamese literature. Mamang, who left the lucrative Indian Administrative Service to pursue a career in journalism and writing, also had words of advice for the established as well as budding writers to write in one’s own mother tongue.

Playing a master stroke, the globetrotting poet has donated the entire award money for a noble cause – construction of a memorial at Lummer Dai’s birthplace, Siluk village in East Siang district.

Before handing over the amount to the Director of Health Services Dr Alok Yirang, who hails from Siluk village, she said, “I am donating the award money to the people of Siluk for erecting a statue of ‘Pi’ (uncle) Lummer.”

Paying his homage to late Dai, APLS vice president Tokong Pertin recalled how the late novelist acted as a bridge to reinforce the traditional ties between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

He said though late Dai is no more in this world, his writings are still alive in the hearts of people of Assam. He advocated that the bonding of brotherhood should prevail between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh through literature and nurture more people to write like him.

Earlier, APLS general secretary Batem Pertin while reading out the citation before the gathering informed that into its second year only, the Luminous Lummer Dai Literary Award will be an annual affair and it will be conferred on person(s) for encouraging creative writing.

Speaking on the occasion, IPR Director Obang Tayeng suggested for translating Lummer Dai’s literary creations into English and his own dialect Adi so as to reach a wider audience. Lummer Dai’s village people including Dr Yirang and Olen Damin also spoke on the occasion and shared their views on life and contributions of late Dai.

IPR Dy Director Denhang Bosai said he was fortunate enough to have worked with the former IPR Director late Dai. While expressing his concern over techno-savvy young generation’s failure to turn up to libraries, he called for instilling reading habit in the young children.

Earlier in the morning, the dignitaries, APLS members, late Dai’s better half Nanni Dai and her family, relatives and well wishers paid floral tributes at his ‘Punyasthal’ and bust installed in his residential compound amid playing of prayer song by the members of Donyi-Polo Gangging, Naharlagun.

Performances by various artists including rendition of a popular number from Dr Bhupen Hazarika and an Adi song by Naharlagun Kristi Kendra’s Ramen Nath, young & adorable Ishita-Nishita sisters’ duo, and Ponung dance by Adi women were the added attractions of the function. 

---

Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

<< Back to News List