Highest Mizo literary award conferred on Prof Khiangte

Aizawl, May 27 (NNN): Pu Buanga Award 2010, the highest literary prize which was given every five years by the Mizo Academy of Letters, Lunglei district has gone to Dr. Laltluangliana Khiangte, who is an accomplished playwright-dramatist, poet, scholar-critic, essayist, biographer and folklorist, a professor of Mizo language and literature in the Mizoram University.
The Award was given away by Dr. R.Lalthangliana, MLA on May 21 last at the Auditorium of Art & Culture, Lunglei before an audience of admirers and writers. Honouring the pioneer Missionary Rev. J.H.Lorrain, whom the Mizos called him with this name, PU BUANGA AWARD has been given to the most deserving litterateur of the state in every five years starting from 2000 AD. The Award consisted of a special Scarf (Zochawi diar), Citation, Trophy and a Cash prize of Rs. 5,000.
Prof. Laltluangliana Khiangte has achieved distinction of being recognized as a playwright and poet but is also one of the most prominent writers and folklorists in North-east India. He has taken the struggle among tribal society as his subject and fictionalized it, thus instituting a different genre especially in the field of playwriting. He has received many awards for his remarkable contribution to the development and growth of Mizo language and literature.
Born on June 28, 1961 at Saitual to one church elder Tlanghmingthanga (formerly teacher and music instructor) of Khiangte clan and Mrs. Darngeni, a young Laltluangliana completed his Master Degree in 1984 in English Literature and hence awarded Ph.D in 1991 and D.Litt. in 1999.
He was a convenor of Civil Rights, and Relief & Development Committee and a former Exe. Member of North East India Christian Council, who happened to be an active Youth leadership at Shillong right from 1979 to 2003 and a dedicated Church Elder from 2007 onwards in Aizawl.