Chin author to receive Burma’s National Literary Award

18 November 2013: Stephen Ni Kio is named among the 13 winners of the National Literary Award for the year 2012 in Burma.

The 63-year-old Chin writer will receive the award for his book on Chin cultural customs in the category of arts and culture.

The announcement was made last Saturday by the National Literary Award Scrutinizing Committee of the Ministry of Information.

According to the New Light of Myanmar, the committee said that they selected the winners by ‘screening 2329 books’ published in 2012 in three stages.

Originally from Hranhring village of Hakha township in Chin State, he has also authored other books in Hakha dialect including a Hakha-to-Hakha dictionary.

In 1993-94, he was an artist-in-residence in the Philippines teaching Chin culture at the Asian Institute of Liturgy and Music in Manila.

His book on Chin cultural customs in Hakha dialect entitled Lai Nunphung was published in Rangoon in 2006 by the Lai Baptist Church.

The award presentation ceremony will be held at the National Theatre on Myoma Kyaung Street in Rangoon on 3 December 2013.

Since 1970, Burma’s National Literature Award has been presented each year for the best works of literature published in the previous year in various literary genres determined by a committee.#