Bhubaneswar: Around 70 eminent tribal writers and poets are expected to join a two-day national Tribal Writers’ meet to be organised here by Sahitya Akademi in collaboration with Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) Centre for Preservation, Propagation and Restoration of Ancient Culture and Heritage of India (PPRACHIN) on August 9 and 10.
The event is being organised to mark International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on August 9, as part of the ongoing Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
Dr Gayatribala Panda, eminent poet and Head of PPRACHIN, informed that the programme will feature multilingual poetry readings, multilingual short story readings and discussions on challenges before young writers in tribal languages, and preservation and development of Indian indigenous languages.
Among eminent tribal writers and poets – who working in 49 tribal languages — who will attend the meet are Krairi Mog Choudhary (Mog), Rajkishore Naik (Bathudi), Anima Teira (Birijiya), Bhaichung Tshering Bhutia (Bhutia), Bhanumati Singh (Bhumij), Kusum Chakma (Chakma), Dhanu Muduli (Gadaba), Dr Jomyir Jini (Galo), Mirthanarch K Marak (Garo), Indumati Lamani (Banjara), Sunil Gaikwad (Bhili), Dasru Nayak (Ho), Damayanti Besra (Santali), Wanggo Socia (Noete), Yogeshwari S (Hakkipikki), Sunil Pedakapu (Kandha Paraja), Ethylberth Khongrymmai (Khasi), Pradip Kanhar (Kui), Baikuntha Pradhan (Kishan), Pilsai Gond (Gondi), Tsewang Gyaltsen (Ladakhi), Pratap Tamang (Tamang), Sudarshan Juang (Juang), Kachyo Lepcha (Lepcha), Swarnalata Aind (Mundari), Lalvensangi Chawngthu (Mizo), SK Boro (Bodo), Lisu Sabar (Saora), Lalrinhlui (Hmar).
The inaugural programme, to be held at SOA Convention Hall in Campus-2 on Wednesday, will be attended by Secretary, Sahitya Akademi Dr K Sreenivasarao, eminent writer and Padmashree awardee Haladhar Nag, eminent scholar Prof. Jagannath Das, eminent writer and Convenor Odia Advisory Board, Sahitya Akademi Dr. Gourahari Das, Convenor Santali Advisory Board, Sahitya Akademi Chaitanya Prasad Majhi and SOA Deemed-to-be-University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda and Dean students’ Welfare Prof. Jyotiranjan Das.