It was a great momentous and historical event for the ‘Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society’ that conferred the most coveted highest and prestigious state level literary award named after the doyen of Arunachal literature namely “Luminous LUMMER Dai Literary award 2026″(lone state government’s recognised) to Dr. Tony Koyu for his unique innovative invention of Tanilipi a scientific indigenous script and for his immense contribution in the field of Arunachal literature by writing and publishing poems, lyrics, and fictional novels in Tani language viz:- Galo & Adi, Hindi and English language and for the valuable contribution he has made for the growth of the Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society’ in its formative years as it’s founder Vice President.
The award was conferred on him on 12th June 2026, on the belated occasion of the 87th birth Anniversary of Sahitya-surya late LUMMER Dai, at Pasighat.
While accepting the award, the recipient thanked the Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society’ for doing justice to his 25 years of dedication and hard work to popularise the indigenous script Tanilipi and the Tani Language. He distributed his fictional novels like “Badal meri Kadmo me,”&“Aroma in Wilderness, “” Yabur, & “Alv Lvkw lo doomv”, both sensual novels and “ORMEN” in Tani Language(Adi and Galo), a philosophical book on Donyipolo faith to delegates. He further informed that writing in English and Hindi was somewhat easier as we learnt them in schools and colleges, but writing books in our mother tongue or tribal languages is really tougher, because we had neither written documents nor any reference books due to the absence of a suitable script for our mother tongues. Besides, writing a novel in Tani Language (language nowhere to be seen), that too with a self-invented script like ‘Tanilipi’was a himayan and herculean task indeed.
Dr Koyu also expressed gratitude to Dr Yadam Ram Kumar, the owner of his publisher, the ”Chatiner” who helped his books to be published in foreign languages like Japanese, German, Russian, French, and Chinese, and also got a foreword written by a Scientist from Oxford University. And such development is the first of its kind in our entire nation, so everyone should appreciate it more, so when the APLS have taken a bold decision to recognise him.
He apprised that the Tani language is the mother of all spoken dialects of the Abotani descendants, and in fact, what their distinct mother tongues have their main roots in the Tani Language only.
He appealed to the intellectuals of the Tani group to understand the exigencies of the time and shed communal differences to unite and harmonise the society under the Tani Bhasa Sahitya Sabha, as we have nearly 14 lakh Tani population in Arunachal and Assam. Therefore, he further informed that he had already taken up the matter with the Central Government to give assent and approval to include the Tani Language under the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution as the common language of Tani descendants and of course with Tanilipi.
However, the fragmenting attitude of our Tani people keeps us apart and spoils our chance to enjoy the legacy and glory of the Tani language.
While thanking the APLS and its jury members, he said that this award was not for him alone but it was also for the beautiful fairy who appeared in his dreams to bless him, and for those engineers that put Tanilipi on keyboard, his family who endured his madness for 3 months besides the budding children who would learn it and write the first page of their life in their mother tongue.
He paid tribute to the doyen of Arunachal Literature in fluent Assamese and highly appreciated the APLS under the able leadership of Shri YD Thongchi, “Padmashri and Sahitya Academy Awardee”, who, in collaboration with the Axom Sahitya Sabha, has brought back the great works of luminous Lummer Dai in the literary arena of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh alive, whereas we had almost forgotten him. Nevertheless, he said that the name of luminous Lummer Dai would continue to twinkle like a morning star in the literary sky of Assamese literature because of his marvellous works like ‘Paharar Hile hile,’ Prithivir Hahi’, ‘Mon arou mon’, ‘Koynar mulya ’, and ‘Upor Mahal’, etc. ‘Man may go, man may come, but he will remain in our heart forever’.
Rebirth of his popularity in the annals of the history of Arunachal and Assam Literature is for sure, mostly due to the tremendous efforts and competent leadership of Shri Y D Thongchi. He further added that we, Arunachalees, had almost forgotten Pai Lummer Dai in the past.
The Award ceremony was inaugurated by Shri Mukut Mithi, former Chief Minister, Lieutenant Governor, and Member of Parliament, as the Chief Guest. Shri Ninnong Ering HMLA, former Union minister & Member of Parliament, also graced. also graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour Both appreciated the APLS for nurturing the budding literary talents and writers and brought them out in the state and national limelight.
The chief Guest advised the student community to learn Tanilipi to preserve tribal languages in our state.He further said that without a lipi no Language and culture could be preserved and on its adoption, it would encompass a lot of employment opportunities to serve as Tanilipi and Tani language teacher in schools, therefore the indigenous students should learn it.
While delivering the welcome address, Shri M. Panging Pao, Group Pilot Captain (retired), the Vice President of APLS(East Siang district), congratulated the Awardee, Dr Tony Koyu and other senior writers like Dr Ngangin Lego, Mr Maliyan Perme, Mr Mading Pertin, Sh. Arak Megu and Sh. Ato Lego, who was recognised and given felicitation by the APLS. He and other seniors expressed their happiness for the justifiable selection of Dr Koyu as the recipient of the most prestigious literary award of 2026.
The self-composed poems recited by Shri Kaling Borang in Assamese on LUMMER Dai, Smt Inumoni, Smt. Manju Lata in Hindi on Lummer Dai, Shri Maliyang Perme in Assamese on Lummer Dai and by Dr Koyu in Hindi enthralled the gathering that enthused all.
Shri YD Thonchi expressed his happiness in selecting the right and eminent author and social scientist like Dr Koyu, and felicitating the most deserving, prolific indigenous Adi writers in their old age. He said that the Honourable Chief Guest and the Guest of honour both were all-rounders and dashing senior leaders who are still taking a lot of interest in promoting tribal literature.
He told the brief history of APLS and how it had traversed such long years without the financial support from the public and well-wishers. He informed that the APLS has been regular in sitting on every Sunday to nurture talented budding writers of Arunachal Pradesh, besides observing the birth anniversary of Lt.Lummer Dai every year on 1st June and maintaining a cordial relation with the Axom Sahitya Sabha. He extended hearty congratulations to all achievers and appreciated the school children and the local Organising Committee headed by Mrs Ponung Ering and Mr Batem Pertin. Besides, he thanked all local senior citizens, retired officers and writers for their cooperation.
The award-giving ceremony was concluded with a vote of thanks delivered
For more on his remarkable journey, read Dr Tony Koyu: The Man Who Gave Tani People Their Own Script.
