Dimapur, Sep. 25 (EMN): Sumi Literature Board (SLB) will celebrate its platinum jubilee on December 13 next at multipurpose hall in Zunheboto town with the Agriculture minister, G Kaito Aye, as the chief guest and advisor of School Education, KT Sukhalu, as the guest of honour on the theme “Niza tsa na ni ju-aje.”
This was decided during a joint meeting of the Sumi Literature Board with all the Sumi frontal committee and sub-committee held on September 24. An update from SLB stated that advisor of Tourism, Art and Culture, Khehovi Yepthomi, would release the Sumi dictionary during the celebration.
Commemorating the platinum jubilee, the members have decided to build a library for Sumi Literature Board, where the former minister, Ihezhe Yepthomi, would donate books and equipment.
The result of an essay writing competition was also declared during the meeting, where the first prize was won by Ihoshe Kinny from WSBAK and Ilina H Achumi from SBAK Nito Mount and Iuly H Aye from SBAK Aizuto won the second and third prizes respectively.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Hokishe Yepthomi, advisor of SLB, narrated the history of SLB erstwhile known as ‘Sema Literature Committee,’ which started in 1947.
Vihoshe Muru, SLB chairman, informed that the state government granted permission to introduce Sümi language under modern Indian Language as a subject in HSLC in November 1977. He added that the Nagaland University approved the introduction of Sema (MIL) in Pre-University (PU) on January 1997 and the subject was first introduced in Mount Olive College Kohima in the same year.
To introduce Sümi in the undergraduate courses, he informed that the Academic Cell has started work on textbooks, adding efforts are on to bring out the books before the next academic session.
The meeting was attended by members from Sumi Hoho, Sumi Kukami Hoho, Sumi Totomi Hoho, Sumi Officers’ Union and many others.