Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

Sahitya Sabha remembers Lummer Dai

By A Correspondent

ITANAGAR, June 2 � The 71st birth anniversary of late Lummer Dai, the literary luminary of Arunachal Pradesh, was observed yesterday in a befitting manner with a series of programmes at Naharlagun and Itanagar.

The event, organised by the Asam Sahitya Sabha with the support of the Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society (APLS), began with the offering of floral tributes at the portrait of late Lummer Dai by a distinguished gathering that included Education Minister Bosiram Siram, Asam Sahitya Sabha president Rong Bong Terang, general secretary Paramananda Rajbongshi, bureaucrat and noted author Y D Thongchi, well-known poet Mamang Dai and a host of writers from Assam.

This was followed by a cultural programme and felicitation of several dignitaries, including Bosiram Siram, Rong Bong Terang, Pranab Chandra Sarma, vice president of Asam Sahitya Sabha, P Rajbongshi and Y D Thongchi among others, by Nanni Dai, the wife of late Lummer Dai.

From the felicitation, the stage then shifted to rendering of Borgeet by a singer from Assam. Maya Dutta and recitation of a beautifully-composed poem in Hindi depicting Lummer Dai�s deep love for Assamese literature by Nanni Dai, who is also the Editor of Echo of Arunachal, the first newspaper brought out from the State.

Speaking as chief guest on the occasion, Arunachal Education Minister Bosiram Siram threw light on the life and times of Lummer Dai saying it is no wonder that he has been etched in our memories through his creative writing skills as he had started nurturing talents since his school days.

�That he would one day become a name to reckon with in the world of Assamese literature was shown in every step he had taken. Be it in office work or in his backyard, he was always seen being engrossed in his own world of dotting down one imagination after another,� he observed.

Describing late Lummer Dai as the torchbearer of our society, the Minister said he is a father figure and guiding force to all of us and added saying he will always remain immortal through his creations.

Terming literature as the mirror of the society, he pitched for bringing �Pen Culture� in the State and said, we need scores of good writers to come up to transform the society.

Citing that writers or performing artists have no boundaries, Siram urged upon the big brother (Assam) to go hand in hand with Arunachal Pradesh to bridge the gap between the two neighbouring States and make �unity in diversity� happen, in real sense of the term.

In response to the two-point proposal put forward by the Asam Sahitya Sabha, the Minister assured to take up the matter with the State Cabinet.

The proposals are the setting up of �Lummer Dai North East Centre for Language, Literature and Cultural Research� in Itanagar and reintroduction of Assamese as the third language in secondary schools (Class VI-VIII) in Arunachal Pradesh.

In his speech, Rong Bong Terang while paying his deep respects to late Lummer Dai said it�s a day of great pride for the people of Assam.

While putting accolades on the Asam Sahitya Sabha for organising the event, Y D Thongchi said the APLS will come up with a rejuvenated force once it gets strengthened.

The programme ended with the paying of homage to late Lummer Dai at Punyasthal, the crematorium of the departed author at his residence in Naharlagun.

The gathering then moved to the JN State Museum at Itanagar for an open session, followed by a literary session on life and works of late Lummer Dai.

Next Story