Statesman, former MLA Tumpak Ele passes away

Tumpak Ete passed away at his Aalo residence on Saturday, family sources said. He was 78

Itanagar: Tumpak Ete passed away at his Aalo residence on Saturday, family sources said. He was 78.

The fomer MLA was suffering from old-age related ailments for quite some time, family sources informed. A native of Kugi (Pomte) village in West Siang district, Ete had served the state government as a circle officer from 1965 to 1972, before being elected as MLA and served the state in that capacity from 1979 to 1984.

Besides being a statesman, Ete was considered an eloquent composer of Donyi Polo prayer songs in the Galo language. These songs are now sung at gamgis (prayer halls) across the state.

Some of his notable compositions are Tage Tanyi, Hedi Hekor, Abo Ge Doyi, and Nyirmen. He was also the director of the Galo Folk Literature Centre from 1972 to till the time of his demise. He was instrumental in having Mopin festival celebrated centrally in 1966 for the first time. Mopin later became the state's first officially recognised festival.

He is survived by wife and two sons.

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