Pongom Lam, a young and promising writer from Noklak District, was awarded National Literary Award ‘Best Poet of the Year 2023’ by Print Foundation, Delhi, for his book Footprints at the award ceremony held on 28th November 2023 at New Delhi.

On winning the award, Lam extended his gratitude to all who have supported him in his journey. He also acknowledged his family for the unwavering support noting that the journey as a writer has not been easy.

“This prize is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion that I have invested and I am deeply grateful to receive recognition for my efforts, ” Pongom Lam expresses. The young poet also hopes that this award will inspire others to pursue their passion and to never give up on their dreams no matter what obstacles they may face along the way.

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Writing is both gift and a skill – a gift that some people are born with and a skill that anyone can acquire if they put hard work into it. He also said that writing has and is changing his life. It has influenced and immensely helped him over the years, he added.

Stating that poetry is the language of soul, Lam says just giving a voice to the pieces is not enough, but reading it whole heartedly and in a way that will touch the heart of many is what he feels brings poetry to life. The young writer always viewed that almost everything we enjoy today was hard yesterday, therefore he hopes to imbue positive thinking to the readers through his poems.

Footprints is a collection of forty-eight poems that has previously also won “Best Poem of the Year 2019-2020” by All Northeast Featured Poetry Award; “Poem of the Year 2021” at Northeast Poetry Award; “Best Poet of the Year” and “Youth Impact Award 2022” at Voice of Northeast, Words Fest 2022; “Best Poem of the year 2022” under the category “Nature” by National Art and Literature Award.

Pongom Lam has also authored Hardship of Life (2017), and Being and Time (2018).