Classical language status and ST demand : Can the twain meet ?
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: June 25, 2022 -

A case of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing or a case of knowing that both hands will be amply awarded ?

After all two hands are better than one to get the goodies.

This is what may be read into the announcement of Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba that Manipuri as a language is likely to get the classical language tag soon.

This was on June 23 and while there is nothing wrong in trying to get the classical tag for the language of a people, remember it was just as recently as April this year that the Rajya Sabha MP made an impassioned plea on the floor of Parliament to include the Meeteis/Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe list of the Constitution of India.

Earlier, and this was before he was elected as the Rajya Sabha MP, Leishemba Sanajaoba had also taken part in a rally organised by the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, Manipur to have the Meeteis/Meiteis included in the Scheduled Tribe list.

While one may not see anything wrong in an MP presenting the Classical language tag and ST demand case to the Government of India, one is left wondering whether these two demands complement each other or run counter to each other.

One wonders what the STDCM and the World Meetei Council, another body which has openly pitched for including the Meeteis/Meiteis in the ST list, have to say on this.

Or have they gone into closed door meetings to discuss the issue ? An answer to this may come anytime or if it is swept aside then can one take it that the two points do not contradict each other ?

Classical language tag. Manipuris, specifically the Meiteis may take extra pride in that their language is being considered to be included in the Classical language group, of which there are only six at present.

As many would know, the six languages exalted to the grouping of Classical language are Tamil (declared in 2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013) and Odia (2014).

Hindi, for reasons best known to the Government of India, is not there. Neither is Bengali.

If and when Manipuri is declared a Classical language, then it would be the first language from the North East to be included in the exalted group.

But then how would this help the future of the Meiteis, is a poser that cannot be helped but raised.

The crucial question is whether the two issues or points spoken about by the Honourable MP of the Rajya Sabha complement each other or run counter to each other.

If Manipuri is granted the status of a Classical language can this impede the demand that the Meeteis/Meiteis be included in the ST list of the Constitution ?

To get a better understanding one may need to go into the finer details of how the language of a people can qualify as a Classical language and how a group of people can be included in the ST category.

More importantly can including the Manipuri language in the Classical category help the cause of the Meiteis in any way ?

Will it help protect their land, which already is under severe threat ?

Will it provide some sort of a Constitutional protection to the existence of the Meitei people as a group of people with their own rights and privileges ?

On the other hand, the ST status can go a long way in protecting the land of the Meitei folks.

The debate is out there and let the knowledgeable people on either side of the Classical/ST divide debate over the matter and present their case to the people.

As a body which has been championing the ST status call for the Meiteis one hopes the STDCM comes out with its stated position on the questions raised.

It is also the opportune moment for the World Meetei Council to speak out their mind on the matter.

The Rajya Sabha MP explaining his stand on the two points would be the icing on the cake for the people, especially the Meiteis.