PASIGHAT/ITANAGAR, Jun 1: Pride of Arunachal Pradesh and a leading light in the world of Assamese literature, ‘Sahitya Surjya’ Lummer Dai was today remembered on his 78th birth anniversary by the people of his birthplace, Siluk village in East Siang district, under the banner of the Silukian Welfare Kebang (SWK), along with the Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society (APLS).
On the occasion, the statue of Lummer Dai installed at the upper primary school in Siluk was unveiled by Sahitya Akademi awardee YD Thongchi.
Coinciding with his birthday celebration, the second Luminous Lummer Dai State Literary Award,instituted by the APLS, was conferred on writer-poet Dr Jogendra Nath.
The award, which carries a citation, a memento, and cash reward of Rs 10,000, was presented to him by APLS president Thongchi.
Paying tributes to late Lummer Dai, Thongchi said that Siluk village is the second village in the state to have erected statue of its own prominent writer. In order to create interest among the younger generations, he suggested that literary competitions be organized from time to time.
Receiving the award, Dr Nath, who considers late Dai “a good friend, literature expert, and a source of inspiration,” said that writing requires continuous attachment and practice.
Exhorting the younger generation towards writing, he said they need to take the first step – “that is, start writing. Skill can be developed slowly.”
Recalling the contributions of late Dai, APLS general secretary Batem Pertin said he was a great humanist,who reflected in his works the woes and challenges of the downtrodden and the women in the society, “thereby strongly advocating for their rights and privileges.”
“He built a bridge between Arunachalee and Assamese societies through his brilliant literary works, which need to be cemented by us and kept the goodwill alive,” said SWK spokesperson Nakut Yirang.
Recipient of the 1st Lummer Dai State Literary Award, Kaling Borang said that with its large number of tribes having distinct and variant culture and heritages, “the state has all the subjects to get inspiration and to write about.”
He suggested developing a script for each and every dialect of the tribes, “so that the ancient oral culture is preserved before it’s too late.”
Son of late Dai, Mibom Dai said his father earned respect from the people of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. He expressed his gratitude to the APLS and the SWK for unveiling his father’s statue.
Among others, APLS East Siang unit president Bodong Yirang, Siluk village GB Ashik Yirang, and Sukhapa Literary awardee Dr Pushpa Gogoi spoke and recalled the illustrious son of the soil.
In the later part of the programme, a ‘Kavi sanmelan’was conducted by APLS, which was led by APLS East Siang unit general secretary Mohonto Pangging. Many poets and writers from Arunachal and Assam participated at the sanmelan.
In Itanagar, the Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society led by its vice president Tokong Pertin paid floral tributes to late Dai on his 78 birth anniversary, in an impressive function held at conference hall of JN State Museum.
A literary sitting involving budding and established writers and poets was also organized to pay a befitting tribute to the literary genius.
Late Dai’s birth anniversary was also celebrated in Assam’s Bihpuria-based Lummer Dai Centre for Distant Education and Research Centre by the Assam Sahitya Sabha.
Representing the Dai family, retired bureaucrat Obang Dai talked about the life and contributions of late Dai, who had enriched the age-old Assam-Arunachal ties through his creative writings.
Assam Sahitya Sabha general secretary Jadav Chandra Sharma also spoke and paid tributes to the late novelist.