MEELAL to step up Meetei Mayek drive
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 18, 2012: The 9th Foundation day of Meetei Eyek Erol Loinasillon Apunba Lup (MEELAL) was celebrated at Lamyanba Shanglen, Palace Compound here today with Education Minister Moirangthem Okendro as Chief Guest.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister M Okendro said that as Manipuris cannot be easily made to come together on any issue, all issues need to be pursued with vigorous force to make it worthwhile.

Likewise, if we have to make Meetei Mayek made known to the whole community, we need to work rigorously to achieve the desired goal.

The Minister pointed out that MEELAL has been successful in making Meetei Mayek compulsory for students up to class VII standard.

Apart from this, MEELAL has made it compulsory to include Meetei Mayek in all posters and advertisement hoardings.

Though the approach of MEELAL may seem a little harsh, yet it fits the people of the state who never come up together on any issue until and unless rigorous force is applied on them.

Ten years from today, there would be many Manipuris who cannot understand and read books written in Bengali script, but who can only understand and read Meetei Mayek.

Considering this, the state government has allocated more funds in the state budget for translation works of all Manipuri books written in Bengali script into Meetei Mayek.

Translation of important documents would be started soon, the Minister said, adding that a separate Department for Language has already been initiated and it would be put into action very shortly.

The Education Minister further pointed out the need to include Meetei Mayek subject in class IX and X as well and stated that our age old tradition, customs, the will to protect and preserve our language and script should be well practiced and protected by us all.

L Surjakanta, Chairman, Film Forum Manipur, who was also present on the occasion as Guest of Honour, said that the work for development of our language and script cannot be left entirely to a section of the society.

It requires the co-operation and support of different sections of the society.

The state government also cannot just remain silent saying that necessary measures are being taken up.

Delivering the key note address, Paonam Thakaba, General Secretary of MEELAL, observed that from now on all the press releases made available to media would be written in Meetei Mayek.

To come over the problems likely to be faced while going through the press releases, he also requested all concerned to learn Meetei Mayek and help MEELAL in its movement.

He informed that the movement of MEELAL for compulsory use of Meetei Mayek in all posters and advertisement hoardings would be strengthened henceforth.

All writers should publish their books of poems, short stories and novels in Meetei Mayek and see that no mixed languages are use in their writings.

All those books written with mixed languages would be banned.

Awardees of State Literary Award given by the Education Department, Government of Manipur, should also be selected from those books where no mixed languages are used.

To mark the occasion, Class VII text book of Meetei Mayek, "Manipuri Sahitya Amasung Manipuri Tengbang Sahitya", a book written by A Sushila, was released by Chief Guest.

The function was presided over by S Tomba, President of MEELAL.

Advisor, MEELAL, Th Thawailembi; Ng Tomba; N Tomba and S Thoungamba were also present as Guests of Honour.

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