Time to replace Bengali script by Meetei Mayek officially: Meinya
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 18 2013:
Meetei Eyek Erol Loinasillon Apunba Lup (MEELAL) today celebrated its 10th foundation day at GM Hall with Lok Sabha MP Dr Th Meinya as Chief Guest.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Meinya stated that it is high time for the State Government to declare Meetei Mayek as the official script under the Manipuri Official Language Act in place of the Bengali script.
He pointed out that the State Government had given recognition to the 27-lettered Meetei Mayek and had officially declared it in the Gazette notification in 1990 .
So, it is high time that Meetei Mayek be used as the official script of Manipuri language.
Since the State Government has failed to declare Meetei Mayek as the official script of Manipuri language, the script has also failed to find a place in the currency note of the country.
The MP also stressed on the need to submit a project to the Ministry of Human Resource Development for developing a Meetei Mayek dictionary as well as to translate all the Manipuri books written in Bengali script into Meetei mayek.
The project will definitely bear fruit as the Central Government is focusing primarily to develop the different languages of the country, Dr Meinya expressed hope.
MLA of Thangmeiband A/C Khumukcham Joykishan, who was also present on the occasion as one of the Guests of Honour, noted that today Meetei Mayek script is found written on every advertisement hoarding and in the background banner of every function.
But it is written very small in comparison to the one written in English.
So, it is time that the matter written in Meetei Mayek be made larger.
He also noted that it is high time we make use of Bengali script a history.
We need to give two years' time to translate all the Bengali scripted Manipuri dailies into Manipuri dailies printed in Meetei Mayek.
President of Meetei National Front (MNF), Chingsubam Wangambi recalled that there was a time when people of the State who were working hard for the development of Meetei Mayek were regarded as those who have no better work to do.
But it is only today that we realize the importance of their hard work.
It is because of the help and support of those elderly people that Chingsubam Akaba is remembered today for his tireless efforts towards upliftment of Meetei Mayek.
Withput their help, he would be nowhere, she added.
The function was also attended by Th Sarangajit, Secretary of Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur; Maisnam Biramani, Programme Executive of All India Radio, Imphal; Sadokpam Tomba Mangang, President of MEELAL; A Romen, DDO of SCERT; Waikhom Romesh, Lecturer of GP Women's College; Ngaseppam Yumjao, Advisor of MEELAL; Advocate Premkumar and L Mahavir, Joint Director, Language Cell as Guests of Honour.