The Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society (APLS), in its 99th session and the first in 2021 held at the conference hall of Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum on Sunday, decided to give “a new thrust” to literary activities this year to stir the minds of the lovers of literature.

The session, chaired by APLS president Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi, also decided to celebrate the 16th foundation day of APLS in the first week of February, World Mother Language Day on February 21, Kavi Diwas on March 21 and World Book Day on April 23.

Prominent writer Rinchin Dondrup, also former director of Karmik & Adhyatmik Affairs Department and historian Dr NN Lego would be felicitated during the 16th APLS foundation day celebration in recognition of their invaluable contributions.

Besides, the Luminous Lummer Dai Literary Award, 2020 would be conferred on noted writer R N Koley during the function. The other co-recipient, nonagenarian Chandra Borpatra Gohain, was handed over the award by the APLS president at his Guwahati residence on December 30 last. The award carries a citation, a plaque, a shawl, a collection of books and Rs 10,000.

It may be mentioned that Koley had contributed to the world of literature through his poems, short stories and research publications, while Gohain had equally written many short stories on the life of NEFA people to become a popular writer of Assam. Gohain had joined as teacher in 1953 in a remote village in East Siang district of the then NEFA and edited Giribani magazine of Independent Golden Jubilee Higher Secondary School, Pasighat. He had served in various interior schools and was promoted to the rank of circle officer. He went on deputation to SSB and retired as area organizer in 1989.

Thongchi also showed “Lummer Dai’r Rachanawali” (a book in Assamese language on complete literary works of late Dai), edited by Sahitya Akademi awardee Jayanta Madhav Bora and published by Assam Govt, which he had released during the 33rd Guwahati Book Fair at Guwahati recently.

Meanwhile, the APLS executive members unanimously decided that Sahitya Akademi awardee Thongchi, also recipient of a Padmashree Award, would continue as its president, while Batem Pertin and Dr Takop Zirdo would be vice presidents and Mukul Pathak as its general secretary. Dr Tage Tada, Tokong Pertin, Nani Kojin and Dr A K Pandey would be its advisors.