| Tokong PERTIN |
Late Tagang Taki, an exponent of Adi culture was born on 10th February 1940 in Pangin village of then undivided Siang district (now Siang district) in the home of late Tapu Taki and late Yago Taki. Being a first generation educated and one of pioneer post graduates, late Taki could easily enter in the glamorous administrative job in those days like his other mates. But, the Almighty designed his destiny in another way. He was a staunch patriot. Keeping aside his own individual career and ambition, he has dedicated his entire life to bring renaissance for the Adi community in particular and the whole tribal society of Arunachal Pradesh in general. He played an instrumental role for augmenting socio-cultural organization in Adi society as well as in the State of Arunachal Pradesh. He was also one of the closest friends of late ‘Golgi Bote’ Talom Rukbo. Both together worked for revival of Adi culture and tradition. He was one of the founding fathers of Adi Students’ Union. It was as per his initiation at Pangin on 26th January, 1956 the Adi Students’ Union (renamed as AdiSU later on) was born. Except for a brief period in active politics, he had devoted his life to social service. Thereby he commands and gets respect from all walks of life. His role to transform the Adi dialect into third language in the school curriculum in the Adi belt is immense. He has walked in the arena of literature in three languages - Adi, English and Assamese. He has received considerable recognition for his creative writings including the late Lummer Dai Literary Award, instituted by the Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society.
He did middle schooling at Pasighat during 1952-59. He also received a scholarship from Assam Board @ Re 1 for a year while in IVth standard. He joined prestigious Cotton College in 1966 and graduated in 1970 with History honours and completed MA in 1973 from Gauhati University. He contributed his articles in ‘Navajug’, ‘Ramdhenu’, ‘Natun Asomia’, ‘Assam Bani’, ‘Janam Bhumi’ to name a few.
In 1966, he was one of top 10 in class X exam and received a Rs 500 scholarship. He was first Adi-Mising Students Union general secretary (1957-59) (later on this students union got its present name AAPSU). In 1970, late Taki lost the Cotton College Students Union election for general secretary’s post by a margin of just one vote. He served as ZPM from 1974 to 1981.
Late Taki composed the first Adi modern song. He also rendered his voice along with his friends which was recorded at AIR, Shillong station in 1963. He has published several books in Assamese, Adi and English languages.
He also played a pivotal role in organizing the Adi Agom Kebang conference, Parbuk (1996), Ruksin (1999). At the Ruksin conference he was elected as president of Adi Agom Kebang. In his demise AdiSU, AAK, Donyi Polo Yelam Kebang and AAPSU should remember this great son of Arunachal Pradesh.
I extend my heartfelt condolences to bereaved family members and pray for eternal peace of the departed soul.