Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society (APLS) on Tuesday remembered the noted litterateur, novelist and the doyen of journalism in Arunachal Pradesh, late Lummer Dai, on his 20th death anniversary.
The members of the apex literary body, led by its president Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi, before holding a discourse on the late writer’s literary works and great contributions to the Assamese literature, paid floral tributes to the portrait of ‘Luminous’ Lummer in a brief but impressive function held at the APLS office premises here.
Thongchi, who himself is an acclaimed writer, recapitulated late Dai’s literary contributions in brief with passionate note. In his speech, the Sahitya Akademi awardee appealed to the younger generation to continue the legacy of late Lummer Dai through their literary activities.
He said, “Development of literature is the index of the development of a community and that will be the real tribute to the memory of late Lummer Dai.”
Thongchi also disclosed that the apex literary body of the nation Sahitya Akademi is going to publish a literary biography of late Lummer Dai under the series of ‘The Makers of Indian Literature’. With the publication of the book, Lummer Dai’s name will be placed along with the great writers of India and this would be a glorious moment for the people of Arunachal Pradesh which may be considered as a boost for the literary lovers of the state, he said.
Thongchi also informed that one of Lummer Dai’s most popular Assamese novels ‘Mon Aru Mon’ has been translated by him in English which is titled ‘Heart to Heart’.
The translated book, which is available in the book stores of Itanagar, will facilitate the young literary lovers of Arunachal to have the flavour of the precious literary contributions of Lummer Dai.
The executive president of APLS, Batem Pertin briefed the other contributions of Lummer Dai, who paved the avenue of development for Arunachalee society as Dai was the pioneer in establishing the first newspaper of the state ‘Echo of Arunachal’.
He added that this event was instrumental in promoting the media in the state. Adi Baane Kebang Women’s Wing president Olen Megu Damin, in her speech, said that Late Lummer Dai was a great lover of nature and animals. Among others, retired Director of Trade and Commerce Tokong Pertin, Director Gazetteers and Indigenous Affairs Sokhep Kri, Luminous Lummer Dai Literary Award-winning writer RN Koley, APLS general secretary Mukul Pathak were also present on the occasion.
