Mamang Dai
இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: மமங் தாய்
Mamang Dai (23 February 1957) is a poet and a novelist from Arunachal Pradesh. Mamang Dai's mother tongue is Adi and she writes in English language.
Personal Life
Mamang Dai was born on 23 February 1957 to Matin Dai and Odi Dai who belong to the tribal group Adi at Pasighat in the east Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
Mamang Dai completed her schooling at Pine Mount School in Shillong, Meghalaya and got her Bachelor's degree in English Literature at Guwahati University in Assam.
When Mamang Dai was selected for the Indian Administrative Service in 1979, she was the first woman from Arunachal Pradesh to succeed in the civil services examination. However, she soon quit the service to focus on her career as a writer and columnist.
Media Profession
Mamang Dai left the civil service to pursue her passion in literature. Mamang Dai worked as a columnist for the magazines like Telegraph, Hindustan Times and Sentinel. Mamang Dai served as program coordinator and reporter for Television, and presenter for All India Radio.
Activities and Positions Held
- Mamang Dai was involved in the identification and conservation of biodiversity sites in the Eastern Himalayan region under the auspices of the Worldwide Fund for Nature, WWF.
- On behalf of the Donyi Polo Mission, Mamang Dai participated in the educational work for children with hearing impairments.
- Mamang Dai was former secretary of Itanagar Press Club.
- Mamang Dai was president of Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUW).
- Mamang Dai was appointed as a member of Arunachal Pradesh state public service commission in 2011.
- Mamang Dai held the position of General Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society.
- Mamang Dai was member of North East Writers' Forum.
- Mamang Dai held the position of General Council member of Sangeet Natak Akademi, Delhi.
Literary Life
Mamang Dai is known as the face of literature in Arunachal Pradesh.
Poetry
Beginning with gentle romantic poems, Mamang Dai transitioned subsequently to producing realistic short stories and novels. Mamang Dai found her place in serious literature with the publication of her River Poems collection in 2004, and has since released five poetry collections.
Novels
Mamang Dai's first novel, The Legends of Pensam, was published in 2006. Mamang Dai followed this with publishing her other novels such as The Stupid Cupid in 2008, The Black Hill in 2014, and Escaping the Land in 2021.
Essays
Mamang Dai is credited with introducing Arunachal Pradesh culture to rest of the world. Mamang Dai's first article Arunachal Pradesh: The Hidden Land was released in 2003, followed by her Mountain Harvest - The Food of Arunachal in 2004.
Folktales
Mamang Dai's The Sky Queen and Once Upon a Moontime are illustrations of Arunachala Pradesh folktales.
For more than 40 years, Mamang Dai has consistently discussed the eradication of tribal culture on both national and international platforms.
Aesthetics
"I am one of the ten thousand messengers carrying the whispers of the world," says Mamang Dai, speaking on her writings. Mamang Dai's works can be seen as reflection of the landscape of her land bordered by forests, mountains, and rivers. Mamang Dai's writings are as rich in mystery, myth, and the history of many centuries as the trees and soil of the forests. Her aesthetic expressions her land's deceitful politics and the changes in time as subtexts.
Mamang Dai writings are deceptively simple. The images in her work seep through the depths of our mind and forces us to see beyond the surface level plot. Even though her writings portray a world brimming with the natural beauty, they are not limited by it. Mamang Dai describes her people as 'travelers seeking their fate'. Mamang Dai imaginative universe never ceases to serve as a reminder of the tribe's long-forgotten past and their unease about the uncertain future.
Tamil Literary Circle
On December 18, 2022, Mamang Dai attended the Vishnupuram Literary Award event for the year 2022 in Coimbatore. For this occasion, her poems were translated into Tamil.
Awards
- In 2003, Mamang Dai received the annual Verrier Elwin Prize for her book Arunachal Pradesh: The Hidden Land from the government of Arunachal Pradesh
- In 2011, Mamang Dai was conferred with Padma Shri
- In 2017, Mamang Dai received Sahitya Akademi Award for her novel The Black Hill
Books
Essays
- Arunachal Pradesh: The Hidden Land (2003)
- Mountain harvest: The Food of Arunachal (2004)
Folktales
- The Sky Queen (2003)
- Once Upon a Moontime (2003)
Novels
- The Legends of Pensam (2006)
- Stupid Cupid (2008)
- The Black Hill (2014)
- Escaping the Land (2021)
Poetries
- River Poems (2004)
- The Balm of Time (2008)
- Hambreelmai's Loom (2014)
- Midsummer Survival Lyrics (2014)
References
- In Conversation with Mamang Dai - Jaydeep Sarangi
- Mamang Dai Web Achieve
- Maman Dai - Introduction
- Mamang Dai - Poetry International
- MAMANG DAI AS A NON-OBJECTIVE CHRONICLER OF CONTEMPORARY NORTHEASTERN REALITY
- Mamang Dai Poetries in Tamil - Ram
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