ITANAGAR, Jun 01: Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Mama Natung called for transformation and reformation of the state through literature.
Addressing a programme organised on the occasion of the 82nd birth anniversary of late Lummer Dai, the doyen of Arunachalee literature, on Wednesday, Natung further said that though the subject was very new to the state, with the support of the state government and the Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society, literature could be a boon in many aspects for the development of the human resources.
Natung also presented the Luminous Lummer Dai Literary Award-2022 to Ajanta, an eminent poet and fiction writer from Assam.
Lummer Dai is regarded as an indispensable name in the field of literature in Arunachal Pradesh.
The programme was organised by the Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society (APLS) at the state guest house here.
Natung said that every tribe in the state had its own poetry, plays, stories, folklores, etc., but sadly there was no written compilation of these in which the AP Literary Society could play a major role in publishing a book so that they could be preserved as well as read by children.
“Writing is an art, which is not an easy task for every individual. Therefore, I appeal to the APLS to come up with a plan so that the indigenous stories and poetry, etc., can be preserved in a word format through books,” he said.
The Minister also urged the Society to create a website where all this could be accessed by children.
Assuring every possible help from his end, Natung said the APLS had the potential to contribute much more to the state and its people; hence, the state government had been repeatedly helping the Society in every possible way.
Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) general secretary Ranju Dodum while speaking on the contribution of Lummer Dai said that though he never had the privilege to work with him, his contributions towards the newspaper movement in the state was still remembered.
He said that it was Dai who gave birth to the first newspaper in the state, ‘Echo of Arunachal’, which was not only a gateway towards the dissemination of news but also encouraged many others to establish news agencies, which was evident today.
“Dai was a celebrated writer in Assam, more than in Arunachal Pradesh. My knowledge on his contribution towards literature is limited but his editorials have been influential in social reforms, especially for women,” he said.
“Dai raised his voice for women at a time when women were seen as inferior to other genders through his editorials and speeches. Therefore, people should always remember those people who take the first step on any issue and work for the betterment of the sector,” he added.
He appealed to the APLS to dig out the editorials written by Dai and publish them in digital or book format.
Earlier, Yater Nyokir, in her keynote address, highlighted the life of Lummer Dai and his contribution towards the growth of literature in the state.
Among others, APLS executive president Batem Pertin, APLS secretary Mukul Pathak and Arunachal Front Editor Nani Kojin attended the programme.
