'Manipuri Language Day' called off
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 19 2020:
The 29th edition of "Manipuri Language Day" celebration supposed to be held on August 20 has been cancelled, said a statement issued by the Manipuri Language Day Celebration Committee.
The day which is celebrated annually on August 20 to commemorate inclusion of the Manipuri language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India on August, 1992, was called off in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 induced lockdown, the celebration committee said.
The day also signifies the importance of Manipuri language in preserving the rich cultural heritage of the State, it said.
The language which acts as lingua franca to all native communities residing in the State since ages, has been listed and placed highly among 22 Indian languages but it has been left to degenerate due to lack of custodians.
The committee also expressed concern over Manipuri diaspora's struggle for inclusion of Manipuri language as one of Assam's Associate Official Languages.
The Assam Government should facilitate Manipuris residing in Assam to appear in competitive examinations with Manipuri Language as one of its papers, it said.