'Rewrite contents of educational subjects from State perspectives'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 14 2017:
Contending that many contents of different subjects being taught in the educational institutions in Manipur were set by the Britishers during their colonial rule in the State, former Dean of Human and Environmental Science, Manipur University, W Nabakumar has underscored the peed to retrospect the contents and rewrite it from the State perspectives.
He was speaking as chief guest at the reception ceremony of the newly elected office bearers of Higher Secondary Schools and College Students' Union 2017-18 organised by Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) at GP Women's College today.
Nabakumar observed that the contents consist many things that are not factual and were created with the alleged motive to create division amongst the different communities.
He alleged that the Britishers have written many things based on the values they want to impart to the people of the State.
As such, academicians, intellectuals and well wishers in the State should rewrite the contents of such educational books and materials, he said.
He said that though Manipuri language was enlisted as endangered by UNESCO, it does not mean that people have stopped using the language.
The language has been facing a potential threat with the inclusion of many loanwords, he observed.
Nothing that other languages of the State are also facing similar threat, he called upon the people belonging to different communities to preserve and protect their own cultures from such threats.
He also said that the term "hills and valley" should be avoided while speaking as it hints a sense of difference amongst the indigenous people of the State.
Instead of "hills and valley" spell, one should use the term "Manipuri", he said.
Lauding volunteers of DESAM and other students' unions for participating in the function, Nabakumar opined that the first step to bring integration in the State would be to unite the youth and students of different communities.
He also asked the youth and students to respect each other's interests and bring amicable solutions to issues of individual/cultural differences.
The function presided by Aheibam Anand, vice-president, DESAM was also attended by Vareiyo Shatshang, president ATSUM; James Inka, general secretary, ANSAM and Son Baite, general secretary, KSO Headquarter as the guests of honor.
Altogether 120 newly elected office bearers of Higher Secondary Schools and College Students' Union 2017-18 were felicitated by presenting them with simple gifts.