TURA: A daylong writers’ meet underlined the need to develop, value and keep A’chik language and literature “alive”.
“We need to develop and value our own A’chik language.We need to speak the language wherever we are and keep the language alive,” former deputy commissioner of Tura and retired bureaucrat Lutherine R. Sangma said while addressing the meet at the conference hall of the North Eastern Hill University campus here on Friday. Earlier, as chief guest, Sangma inaugurated the programme organised by the A’chik Literature Society in collaboration with the department of Garo, NEHU.
Making an appeal to celebrate International Mother Tongue Day, she encouraged students of the university to work and study hard to help uplift the A’chik people and their literature.
On the occasion, two books, namely The Midong Kaa Ceremony jointly written by Fameline K. Marak, Colnat B. Marak and Barbara S. Sangma, and Songgitcham (The Ancestral Village) written by Kroshnil D. Sangma were released by the chief guest.
Two A’chik authors, Wilbirth D. Marak and Kroshnil D. Sangma, also gave a presentation on their written works.
Students from the department of Garo presented a soulful English song, Bless the Lord O My Soul, synced with the fusion music of guitar, traditional instruments such as Chigring, A·chik drum, flute and a gong.
Songs in the Garo dialects, Atong and Am’beng, which laid stress on environmental protection, were also presented by the students.
The event also witnessed the reading and recitation of 54 poems and five plays. Certificates were presented to the participants by the president of the A’”chik Literature Society, Caroline R. Marak.
