Discourse on revival of Rongmei literature held
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 22 2021:
The Rongmei Scholars' Association (RSA) on Saturday conducted a session on "Writing the Oral: Folklore and Print Culture of the Rongmeis" through online mode, informed RSA president Dr Aphun Kamei and general secretary Dr Veronica Khangchian.
In a joint release, the RSA functionaries said that associate professor of English at Miranda House, Delhi University Dr Senganglu Thaimei gave a detailed talk and analysis on Rongmei literature from the beginning till present, using the findings from her thorough research.
She said there are over 250 books written and printed in Rongmei language but most of which are out-of-print or long forgotten and some are mostly published independently since the third decade of 20th century.
To trace these books and understand the context, she noted that the emergence of Rongmei literature, Rongmei folklore in print, and the evolution and present state of Rongmei literature need to be understood.
She also made a mention of many important individuals and their works which are crucial to the development of Rongmei literature, giving the participants a clear picture of its history and progress, the release informed.
Dr Senganglu also pointed out folklores are integral to a Rongmei author's attempts to write history, and since writing is a political act, literature itself was a form of socio-political resistance to different dangerous forces.
She therefore appealed to the Rongmei people to pro actively work in the analytical creation and development of Rongmei literature before it is too late.
The event was chaired by Dr Aphun Kamei, who is also senior assistant professor at Delhi School of Economics.
He stated that the discourse is a historic event for the community and also mentioned that RSA was formed in 2018 with the aim to provide an academic platform, engage on issues pertaining to the Rongmei people, and collaborate with research and academic institutions across the globe.
Questions were also raised and discussed on oral tradition vis-a-vis liter ature, Meitei influence of Rongmei literature, Zeliangrong movement, Rongmei morality, and orthography and standardisation of Rongmei language, the release added.