TEZU : Chairman of the Centre for Cultural and Literary Studies on Mishmis (CALSOM) and Convenor of the Lohit Youth Library Network Sokhep Kri on Monday urged young people to document more local stories to create future volumes of Mishmi-land Musings, describing the anthology as “a book of our own life stories.”

Kri was speaking after releasing the second edition of the anthology at Bamboosa Library, Tezu.

He said the book had received appreciation from eminent writers Y D Thongchi and Mamang Dai, adding that the anthology was written by library readers when they were studying in Classes VI to VIII.

“The young writers could achieve this because they were active library readers,” he said, encouraging students to visit libraries regularly to improve their academic performance, self-confidence and public speaking skills.

Referring to senior library volunteer Keselo Tayang, who was invited by the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, to address Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer trainees on promoting rural libraries, Kri said the achievement reflected the growing recognition of the library movement in Arunachal Pradesh.

On the occasion, Kri dedicated book gift sets received from the Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children (AWIC), New Delhi, to the Lohit Youth Library Network. He thanked the organisation for supporting young readers in the district and acknowledged the contributions of founder patron Prashant Lokhande, Indian Administrative Service officer, and senior IAS officers Kaling Tayeng, Nila Mohanan and Mitali Namchoom for facilitating the safe transportation of the books from New Delhi to Tezu.

Kri also distributed prizes to winners of a rapid-fire quiz in the Kaman Mishmi language. Roshanso Tega secured first place, while Bomsaiso Bellai and Meena Mam jointly won second prize. Sopliam Manyu received the third prize.

He congratulated the Forum of Library Activists for organising programmes to promote literary traditions in the Kaman and Tawra Mishmi languages.

Speaking on the occasion, Lohit Youth Library Network Coordinator S Mundayoor recounted the publication of the first edition of Mishmi-land Musings. He thanked eminent writer and Padma Shri awardee Arup Kumar Dutta for editing the anthology and paid tribute to the late Padma Bhushan awardee Prof Manoj Das for his message of encouragement to the young contributors.

Receiving the newly released edition, Forum of Library Activists chairperson Keselo Tayang thanked Kri for his sustained support to the library movement and expressed gratitude to the Arunachal Pradesh Department of Indigenous Affairs for providing financial assistance for the publication.

Earlier, senior volunteer Bethem Marai highlighted the Forum’s initiatives to promote literary activities in the Kaman and Tawra Mishmi languages, while Banika Kri welcomed the gathering.