Samannoy Setu title conferred to Minoti Riba

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itagar, March 2: Miti Riba, one of the doyens of the cooperative movement in Aruchal Pradesh, was conferred the ‘Samannoy Setu’ title by the Lakhimpur District Lekhikha Samaroh Samiti (LDLSS) during the 12th annual conference of the Aruchal Pradesh branch of the Asom-Aruchal Lekhika Sanmmanoy Rakkshi Somaroh Samiti (AALSRSS) at the Kristi Kendra here on Sunday.

She was conferred the title in recognition of her immense contribution to promotion and development of Assamese literature, as well as for acting as a bridge between the people of Assam and Aruchal Pradesh.

‘In spite of the fact that you got married to an Aruchalee long ago and is accustomed to a new culture, your heart still beats for your mother tongue. The formation of the AALSRSS’s Aruchal branch for promotion and development of Assamese language and literature is testimony to your unparalleled love and respect for it,’ the memento presented to Riba read.

Overwhelmed by the love and respect shown to her, Miti appealed to all to maintain the age-old relationship between the people of both the sisterly states.

“The people of both the states have equal responsibility to keep this cordial relationship alive and intact,” she said.

Speaking on the occasion, award winning author and chief information commissioner YD Thongchi highlighted the achievements of Assamese women writers and said that eleven Sahitya Akademi awards have so far been bagged by women writers from Assam.

“If women are marching equally along with their male counterpart in Assam, then it is in the literature front,” Thongchi, who himself is a noted Assamese writer, said.

With regard to literary activities in Aruchal Pradesh, Thongchi opined that lack of a common language has badly affected the field of literature in the state.

Several speakers on the occasion stressed on further strengthening the cordial relationship between the people of the two states.

“Even though we were separated geographically, the bond we have since time immemorial will remain so for ever,” they affirmed.