Mamang Dai

Mamang Dai Biography

Mamang Dai is an Indian author who writes in English and Adi. She is a journalist based in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, best known as a poet and novelist. The Sky Queen, The Black Hill, Stupid Cupid, Mountain Harvest: The Food of Arunachal Pradesh and River Poems are her acclaimed works. For her contributions towards the field of Indian literature, government of India honored her with Padma Shri (2011) and Sahitya Akademi Award (2017) for her novel The Black Hill. She has authored both fiction and non-fiction works. She wrote romantic verse and stories during her early phase of writing and then moved from the theme of the self to focus on a larger reality.

Mamang Dai was born on 23 February 1957 at Pasighat, East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh. She was born into Adi tribe, as the daughter of Matin Dai and Odi Dai. Her schooling was completed from Shillong and graduation in English literature from Gauhati University. She was selected for the IAS in 1979. But she wanted to follow her passion and chose journalism over administration. Quite interestingly she was the first woman from her state to be selected for IAS. As a journalist, she wrote columns in different publications such as The Telegraph, Hindustan Times etc. She also worked in radio as an anchor where she got opportunity to interview personalities belonging to different fields.

As a journalist she has held many administrative powers earlier, and currently the president of Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists. In 2017 her book - The Black Hill received the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award. The story is set in the mid-19th century and the fictional-historical narrative of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam during a period of transition.

Published: September 19, 2018

Updated: September 19, 2018