Imphal, May 18 2009: The fifth indigenous 'Meetei' script implementation Day, marking the day the government came out with a White Paper for the implementation of Meetei Mayek in schools on May 18, 2005, was observed today at Kangla Hall under the aegis of the Meetei Eyek Erol Loinasillol Apunba Lup (MEELAL).

The event was graced by dignitaries like MLA Ngairangbam Bijoy, MLA RK Anand, MEELAL president Ngasepam Yumjao, NCERT Director Dr Devala, Joint Director of Language Cell Dr Laishram Mahavir, Superintendent of Archaeology department Sapam Bheigya and vice-president of HERICOUN Mutum Churamani, among others.

Delivering the key-note address, MEELAL general secretary Y Biren said that MEELAL has taken up various measures to uphold the indigenous script in the state.

He said that MEELAL has been striving to bring out all publications in Bengali script to Meetei Mayek.

Biren said that Shantidas Gosai, the missionary of Ramanandi religion, had left the people with many fabricated puyas that create much confusion to the people of the land over the indigenous script.

He pointed out that during the term of Yangmasho Shaiza's Chief Minister-ship, the government had approved the use of the 27-alphabets script of the Meetei Mayek through a gazette in 1980 .

Efforts have been ceaselessly made by the workers and volunteers of MEELAL for the implementation of the indigenous script in the state even to the extent of serving jail terms, Biren recounted.

He said that with the efforts of the late leader of MEELAL, Ch Akaba, the state government had brought out a white paper on May 18, 2005 and the script has been included in the school syllabus from 2006 .

He said the day of bringing out the white paper has been observed as the implementation day of Meetei Mayek by MEELAL since then.

He also appealed the people to learn the script with a sense of loyalty to the language and script. Talking about the need to revive the script, MLA Dr Ng Bijoy said that the language cell of the government should be revitalised.

He also suggests taking assistances from the Human Resource Ministry for the restoration and revival of the indigenous script.

MLA RK Anand said that the confusion of the people over the script is springing out due to failure to establish our identity while expressing appreciation to MEELAL for its struggle to restore the lost culture of the people.

Speaking on the occasion, the Joint Director of Language Cell, Dr L Mahavir said that the establishment of a separate directorate for Manipuri Language has been initiated while urging the participation of the public for the fulfillment of the project.

He said that a directorate has long been set up for Konkani language, which was being included in the Eight Schedule of the Constitution along with the Manipuri language.

Saying that setting up a separate directorate for Manipuri language is a must, HERICOUN vice-president M Churamani said that MEELAL should not only be entrusted for the development of the script.

As a part of the observance function, six dedicated workers for the development of Meetei Mayek were honoured today.

Prizes to winners of the essay and poem writing competitions for school children held earlier were also distributed during the function.

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