State celebrates Manipuri Language Day
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 20 2013:
Like in the past All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) today celebra-ted the 22nd Manipuri Lan- guage Day with clarion calls for further development, higher status and enrichment of Ma-nipuri marking the commemo- rative event held at THAU ground, Thangmeiband.
Speaking at the anniversary function, Sahitya Akade- mi awardee Saratchand Thi-yam expressed that despite in- clusion of Manipuri Language in the 8th Schedule of the constitution more than two decades back there is still scope for development and gaining higher recognition as the 8th Schedule has reverential categories such as 'classical language' comprising Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telegu and Malayalam languages.
Stating that Manipuri is the 22nd Indian language including in the 8th Schedule along with informing that Bengali, Oriya and Marathi languages are all eyeing spots in the 'classical language' group, Sa-ratchand said language expo- nents too should take relevant initiative to seal a berth for Manipuri at the top level.
With UNESCO guideline making it mandatory that follow-up measures should be initiated to ensure languages recognised in the 8th Schedule are preserved at any cost along with sustaining effort to further develop recognised languages, he cautioned that both unintentional and deliberate usages of other dialects while conversing in Manipuri would be a bane for the survival of the State language.
Highlighting that language experts are aware of fusion in Manipuri dialect as a 29-member committee exist un- der the chairmanship of the HRD Minister to closely mo-nitor the 8th Schedule recognised Indian languages, the awardee mentioned that one representative from each of the 22 recognised languages at the Central Institute of Indian Language, Mysore are also members of the said committee.
According to former AMSU president Sagolsem Saratchandra the recent increase in the number of class IX and X students opting for Manipuri Language instead of Alternative English would further boost in enriching the language, UCM president Y Nabachandra said as Manipuri Language is one of the languages in UPSC conducted combined competitive examinations there should be no inhibition in pursuing higher studies in Manipuri or promoting its development.
He also strongly advocated that every effort should be made to weed out fusion in Manipuri language if the same stands to interfere in the further enrichment of the State language.
Earlier, presenting the keynote address, AMSU secretary (HRD) Manjit Sarangthem highlighted having gain recognition as one of the languages in the 8th Schedule and considering the fact that Meiteilon could be used during Parliamentary debates there should be no justifiable reason for Manipuris to prefer other languages.
Out of 211 dialects spoken in the North East region Manipuri language is also one of the most respected medium of communication, he added.
Among others, former AMSU presidents P Premananda Meitei and Thiyam Naresh were also present at the commemorative function.