Noted cultural activist from Arunachal Pradesh Sathyanarayan Mundayoor, popularly known as ‘Uncle Moosa’, will be honoured with the prestigious Dakshina-Ravunni Menon Award.
The Dakshina-Ravunni Menon Award is being given away by Dakshina, a Chennai-based cultural organisation.
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The award carries a cash prize of Rs 50,001, a citation and a sculpture.
‘Uncle Moosa’ will be honoured with the award for his life-long contribution towards improving educational standards in Arunachal Pradesh.
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‘Uncle Moosa’ is considered to be a pioneer of the Lohit Youth Library Movement.
He was also honoured with the Padma Shri Award, the fourth-highest civilian award of India, in 2020.
‘Uncle Moosa’ said that the cash prize of the award will be utilised for further promoting education in Arunachal Pradesh.
Sathyanarayan Mundayoor was born at Arangodukara Mundayoor Mana in Thrissur district of Kerala.
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After completion of education, he came to Mumbai for work.
In 1979, he left his job as a revenue officer in Mumbai and shifted to Lohit in Arunachal Pradesh.
Since then, he has been promoting education and reading in the state.
In 2007, as part of the Lohit Youth Library Movement, ‘Uncle Moosa’ started his first Bamboosa Library in the Tezu.
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Under his leadership thirteen libraries were opened in Wakro, Chongkham, Lathaw and Anjaw.
Each library has over 10,000 books ranging from comics to novels.
He also started the Home Library movement to deliver books for children to homes.
He has also written a book for children in Malayalam about the folk culture of Arunachal Pradesh.