TURA: Book releases, award presentations and felicitations were the main features of the Annual General Conference of the A’chik Literature Society (ALS) held at the Christian Girls’ Higher Secondary School in Tura on Saturday.
Speaking as the Chief Guest on the occasion Rev Krickwin C Marak, former General Secretary, A·chik Baptist Dal·gipa Krima, (ABDK)Tura, spoke on the value of oral literature, the practice of writing and written literature which has educative, civilising power, enhancing the capacity of the human mind to reason, build up thought and ideas and scientific thinking. Literature adds immeasurable amount of knowledge to humanity, he said.
Senior Executive Member Prof Milton S Sangma reiterated the importance of speaking and writing in A·chik language to develop and strengthen it in the backdrop of the threat to many languages especially spoken by tribal and small groups which are in the danger of extinction.
During the programme felicitations to the recipients of Doctor of Philosophy was also carried out by Prof Sangma.
Dr Tilla Vinter B Marak (Department of Education) was felicitated for her thesis titled, “A Study of Child Rearing Practices among Tribals in West Garo Hills District of Meghalaya,” Dr Challang R Marak (Department of Education) for “A Study of the Managerial Creativity of the Heads of Primary Schools in Selected Districts of Garo Hills,” Dr Sanatombi K Sangma (Department of English) for, “Transformation Myths: A Study of Garo Narrative”, Dr Endy Smera M Marak (Department of English) for, “A Mystical Journey: Quest, Ritual and Rebirth in the Select Poems and Plays of T.S. Eliot” and Dr Cherik D Sangma (Department of English) for, “The Quest for Cross-Cultural Identity in the Select Novels of Bharati Mukherjee”.
Two books entitled ‘A·chik Jat Aro Kristian Mission (2017)’ by Rev Krickwin C Marak and another ‘Goerani Mil’am’ compiled by Llewellyn R Marak were also released on the occasion.
Literary award, 2017 for books published in 2016 was also given to Fervent Rangsa Marak for his compilation of A·chik folklore titled, ‘Aiao! Ga·sua A·chik A·song (2016)’.
New office bearers of the society for the term 2017-20 were also elected with Prof Caroline R Marak as President, Giribala G Momin and Dr Bentinck M Sangma as Vice Presidents, Crystal Cornelious D Marak as Secretary, Colnat B Marak and Rosa Maray Ch Sangma as Joint Secretaries, Mukthi R Marak as Accountant, Basan R Marak as Treasurer, Dokatchi Ch Marak Chairperson Board of Scrutiny, Icylian R Marak as Editor and Publisher, Wilberth D Marak as Assistant Editor and Publisher, John Pillar K Marak as Publisher, Fameline K Marak as Assistant Publisher, Lomarin A Sangma as Circular Manager and Belvydha S Momin as Assistant Circular Manager besides 6 other executive members.