On Manipuri language missing the Classical tag...WAMA blames bureaucratic laxity
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 08 2024:
The Wakhallon Mannaba Apunba (WAMA), Kangleipak has asserted that the Manipuri language was left out from being classified as a classical language due to laxity and ineptness on the part of some key bureaucrat officers.
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club this afternoon, WAMA Kangleipak president Moirangthem Naokhamba pointed out that the Manipuri language is the lingua franca of around 34 communities of Manipur; it has its own alphabets and is already included in the 8th Schedule.
Recently, five languages viz; Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit were classified as classical languages but Manipuri language was left out and this is quite disappointing, he said.
At the initiative of WAMA, titular king and Rajya Sabha Member Leishemba Sanajaoba raised a proposal in the Parliament on September 22, 2020 to grant classical language status to Manipuri language.
The titular king was visibly disappointed when five languages were classified as classical languages recently and Manipuri was left out, he said.
An independent investigation carried out by WAMA revealed that Manipuri language was left out because of laxity on the part of some key Government officers, he asserted.
Directorate of Language, Planning and Implementation sent all necessary documents to the Art and Culture Department for classification of Manipuri language as a classical language.
But Art and Culture Department did not send the documents to the Chief Secretary who would forward them to the relevant offices of the Central Government, Naokhamba said.
He urged the Chief Minister who is also in charge of Art and Culture Department to look into such laxity on the part of the officers concerned.
He further urged the Chief Minister to take up necessary processes so as to raise Manipuri to the status of a classical language.