School textbooks on state's culture, history soon, says Ngandam

Itagar, Dec 7: Though Aruchal Pradesh has been following NCERT textbooks, steps would be taken soon to print school books on the tural, historical and cultural assets of the State, Education Minister Honchun Ngandam announced on Wednesday.

He made this commitment at the 11th foundation of Aruchal Pradesh Literary Society (APLS) at JN State Museum here as chief guest, while responding to a plea from APLS president Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi, Publicity Secretary Pradeep Kumar and AGS Mukul Pathak.

Announcing that literary activities would be made mandatory in schools every Saturday, Ngandam said he has already directed the department to republish the book ‘Donyi-Polo, Donyi-Polo Asman se kuch to bolo’ and on moral education, which were in circulation in the past.

Expressing his dismay as to why these books were withdrawn from circulation, he said the young students hardly know anything about the State. 

He advocated behavioural change as the need of the hour, saying he has exhorted all senior district officers including DCs, SPs, DMOs and DFOs to take weekly awareness programmes in all education institutions. “The teachers alone should not be left to teach as it is a joint responsibility of the society,” he said.

Novel, short stories, poem, news and even painting keep records of social activities, he said terming all of them as historians. Changing young mindset through proper education alone could herald the most desired change, he argued.

Appreciating the APLS for immensely contributing to welfare of the State, Ngandam said social changes brought by Rabindra th Tagore and Swami Vivekada through their poems and writings are well known while some authors were instrumental in stirring the Russian revolution.

Appreciating former Research Director Parul Dutt for his book on Wancho, the minister informed the gathering about his yet-to-be-published small book on Wanchos. “Thus being a voracious reader, I desired to be an APLS member,” he said.

Stressing the need for prevailing multi-party political system, he batted for debate to bring about the changes. He assured to take up with the State government a plea for setting up of a publication department to encourage and print the creations of the State’s upcoming writers and poets.

APLS honoured Assamese literary giant Gn Pujari, who was conferred Sahitya Academy Award 2017 in recognition for his five poetry books and translation of famous dramas such as ‘Chandrachur’ (Assamese) from Habib Tanvir’s origil Hindi drama ‘Charandas Chor’, and Dr. Jamu Bini Tadar for getting PhD from RGU on her thesis ‘A comparative study on plays of Mohan Rakesh and Girish Kard’ and published as a book ‘Do Rangpurush: Mohan Rakesh-Girish Kard, the first book by any Aruchalee on literary criticism.

 ‘Mishmi-land Musings’, an anthology of creative writings of Lohit Youth Library, ‘Voice of Silence: A Resonce of Love’, an English poem book by bam Serbang and Themose Hokgo, a poetry book in Bishnupriya by jourlist Ranjit Sinha were released by Ngandam, Thongchi and APLS working president Dr Tage Tada.

Pujari, in his address as guest of honour, said: “Poem is a medium of expression,” while reciting noted poet Ajit Baruah’s ‘Parijat Phool’. His recitations of famous Indian and foreign poets proved how poetry reflects the society and human activities.

Taking part in the Tumpak Ete Memorial Lecture earlier, RGU Hindi Assistant Prof Viswajeet Kumar Mishra said Indian literature should not be limited to single language and NE India is the proof for enriching tiol literature through multi-lingual contributions.

“Literature should neither be divided nor politicised as it has been contributing to humanity since its inception,” he said.