ITANAGAR, Mar 16: The Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society (APLS) today launched a Hindi novel ‘Meera: Ek Safar’, authored by Wanggo Socia, at the Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum auditorium here.
The novel portrays a woman’s journey of struggle, courage, and self-discovery, making it an inspiring contribution to contemporary Hindi literature.
During the event, hosted by Goto Chiram, Socia, who hails from Tirap district, shared his journey as a writer and spoke about the challenges faced by his community. He highlighted that the novel draws inspiration from the women in his life and reflects the struggles, resilience, and strength of women.
The interactive session, moderated by Nanang Yirang, allowed the author to discuss the themes of the novel and the need for writers from Tirap to bring forward untold stories from their communities. Critics and literary scholars appreciated Socia’s command over language and the strong social message conveyed through the narrative.
Speaking on the occasion, Socia described writing as a form of activism aimed at creating awareness and bringing attention to important societal issues. He expressed his sincere gratitude to the APLS for publishing and supporting his work.
In his address, APLS president Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi shared the journey and evolution of the Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society. He highlighted the importance of literature in society, stating that providing a platform to writers is a significant step toward the betterment of society. Thongchi mentioned that he saw great potential in Wanggo Socia after reading the first draft of the manuscript and decided to support its publication. He also expressed his gratitude to Dr Jamuna Bini and Dr Rajeev Ranjan Prasad (Assistant Professor at Rajiv Gandhi University) for their efforts in bringing the work to life.
Dr Prasad, in his speech, appreciated the writer’s portrayal of a woman’s life in the novel, noting that it was a challenging task for a tribal writer to adopt the perspective of a non-tribal girl. He remarked that the novel’s literary craft and engaging plot attract readers, especially through its effective use of a flashback narrative style that vividly brings the story to life. Dr Prasad further commended the 24-year-old author for his valuable contribution to the literary landscape of Arunachal Pradesh, particularly for bringing contemporary women’s discourse to the forefront through his writing.
Among others, APLS general secretary Mukul Pathak; Dr Doyir Ete Taipodia, Associate Professor at Rajiv Gandhi University; Dr Manglit Mongchan from the Arunachal Institute of Tribal Studies; Gumpi Nguso, Hindi Officer at RGU; and Higio Zarngam, DIPRO, attended the event, besides professors and scholars from RGU, APLS members, writers, poets, and literary enthusiasts.