Manipuri language accepted, script demand lingers
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: August 22, 2022 -
HAD Manipuri Language not been granted recognition and included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India, then there might not have been the intense public movement that led to acceptance of Meetei Mayek as the official script of Manipur and its subsequent upgrade as an educational curriculum till the master's level.
It needs no reminding that as soon as the new born comes into the world, the neediest thing for him is the language to communicate and connect himself with the kind of people of his own.
As such, language has been the most effective means of communication in our life.
Though evolutionary in nature, the campaigns in pursuance for granting official recognition to both the Manipuri language and the indigenous script spearheaded by a students' body and an organisation respectively were marked by violent agitations and frequent disruptions caused to normal chores.
Though not all the movements for enlisting Manipuri language were chaotic or had brought life to a standstill due to strike call, stray incidents of violence indeed hogged the limelight and compelled authorities concerned to acknowledge that the demand had merit.
As the youthful population led by a students' body resorted to street protests to draw attention of those who were helming the affairs in the state and in New Delhi, some senior citizens pursued the matter and eventually managed to solicit support from the then parliamentarians, who ultimately paved the way for inclusion of Manipuri language among the constitutionally approved languages.
Thus, recognition granted to Manipuri language could be attributed to the intense street protests as well as the path of maturity chosen by some elderly language proponents.
Those who chose the democratic way to air the public grievances were duly honoured by the joint Struggle Committee for Manipuri Language on Saturday on the occasion of 31st Manipuri Language Day celebration, which many organisations commemorated across the state and even beyond.
Honouring of the four individuals namely Dr Puyam Khogendro of Thoubal Kshetri Leikai, advocate Yengkokpam Priyokumar of Khabam Lamkhai, Sarat Salam of Sagolband Salam Leikai and Yumnam Ratan of Uyumpok Maning Leikai by the Struggle Committee could be construed as reminding all concerned that if there is collective efforts then all valid demands of the people would definitely be upheld by the policy makers.
The quartet's effort to collect signatures of 211 MPs during the movement for inclusion of Manipuri language in the 8th Schedule also underscored their firm resolve to make the mass movement fruitful.
Now that recognition of the Manipuri language has completed three decades, it is but natural that demand would be made for a similar recognition to Meetei Mayek for further development of the script, incorporate Meetei Mayek in the currency notes and to enable people of Manipur appear in national level competition examinations in their own script.
Whether or not the latter demands get the Union government's nod only time will tell, but it is desired that the proponents take the right path and the authorities concerned accord importance to the same before the issue takes a violent turn as had been the case when the state library building was reduced to ashes after the series of agitations launched had no effect on the state's legislators.
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