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Dimapur, Aug. 18 (EMN): Guru I Sademmeren Longkumer, who was known for his work in art, culture and literature, and founded Naga Wadir, passed away at around 9:10 pm on August 17 at Faith Hospital in Dimapur. He was 93.
Longkumer was a recipient of Governor’s award for his contribution to Ao Naga literature and folklore (August 15, 2003), recipient of Sangeet Natak Academy Rabindranath Tagore Puraskar (April 25, 2012), Kolkatta, and conferred with the title “Guru” under Gurushisha Parampara.
He was brought to Dimapur from Ungma village in May due to his deteriorating health and he was suffering from pneumonia. He died of cardiac arrest last night.
One of the relatives of the deceased informed that the mortal remains of the multiple award winner have been taken to Ungma village for his funeral on Tuesday and was on the way while filing this report.
Born on October 9, 1927 at Ungma village in Mokokchung, Longkumer was known as an ‘outstanding’ teacher, headmaster of National Primary School (1948-1985), a prominent Tatar, secretary of the Ungma Village Council (1960-1987), an expert in art, culture and literature and the founder of Naga Wadir.
He was conferred with an honorary doctorate degree by the National Virtual University, Bangalore (registered with the United Nation organisation, (Geneva) for peace and education on June 8, 2019.
Longkumer had also written dozens of Book in Ao and English. He released a documentary film based on a folktale of Ao tribe title ‘Yadensang and Kajepsangla’ in 2011.
A person with a deep interest in the field of literature, art and culture, Longkumer participated in various socio-cultural programmes in the country.