ITANAGAR, June 1 - Dignitaries and literature lovers here paid rich homage to literary legend and doyen of Arunachal journalism, late Lummer Dai, on the occasion of his 79th birth anniversary today.
The Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society conferred the Luminous Lummer Dai Literary Award 2019 on writer Tagang Taki in a function held at the Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum here.
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein presented the award to Taki, a native of Pangin in Siang district, for his enormous contributions to the field of literature since the NEFA days.
Meanwhile, the Asam Sahitya Sabha awarded the prestigious Lummer Dai Literary Award 2019 to Padmashree awardee Rongbong Terang at a function in Tezpur today.
While recalling Dai�s contributions in the field of literature, Mein said that he is the pride of Arunachal Pradesh and a leading light in the world of Assamese literature. The Asam Sahitya Sabha had honoured him with the title of �Sahitya Surjya�, he added.
Mein exhorted the youths to carry forward Dai�s legacy. He also advocated for preservation of oral literature in digital and written forms.
The Deputy Chief Minister urged the Arunachal literary body to encourage more literary activities in the State and assured it of his full support.
In his acceptance speech, Taki said he was honoured to receive the Lummer Dai award and thanked the Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society for choosing him.
The award-winning writer also suggested to the apex literary body of Assam to honour another eminent writer from Arunachal, YD Thongchi, who has also enriched the world of Assamese literature through his creative writings, by selecting the latter for its president�s post.
Earlier, Mein and other dignitaries paid floral tributes on Dai�s portrait.
