Seminar stresses importance of promoting Manipuri language, literature and culture
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 16 2023: Northeast Biography Forum in association with Writers' Platform Manipur organised a one day National seminar on the theme "A Spectacular Countenance on Manipuri Language, Literature & Culture" at Manipur University Earth Science's Senate Hall today.

Renowned writer and Sahitya Bhusan Lairenlakpam Shruti Kumar, from Assam's Hojai, as chief guest, encouraged the use and promotion of Manipuri language.

He said people should shed the general perception that speaking English is a sign of a well educated and established person.

"We must use and promote our own language and texts.

Promoting the language as well as the texts is intrinsic to protecting our identity, culture and community," Shruti Kumar said.

Seminar stresses importance of promoting Manipuri language, literature and culture

He opined that people should discourage marrying to outsiders to preserve Yek Salai.

The choice of marrying to others is detrimental to the future of the Yek Salai and clan identity, he said.

Shruti Kumar said people should feel proud and take pride in the fact that Manipuri language, literature and culture has existed since 33AD.Touching on the current conflict between Meiteis and the Kukis that has plunged the State into a deep turmoil, he said one of the causes for the crisis is the lack of farsightedness and vision in the policies of the Government regarding the future of the communities.

"Manipur's culture is no less than any other culture.

We should be proud for we were born Meiteis.

Love for our motherland must be with us in every step we take," Shruti Kumar said.

Former Chairperson of Social Welfare Board, RK Nayansana Devi said people should collectively promote "our own rich culture and tradition gifted to us by our forefathers" .

Manipur University's Assistant Professor (Manipuri) Dr N Sanatomba said the seminar was organised to encourage and promote Manipur language, culture and tradition among the students of the university and youths of the State as a whole.

He asserted that amid the current conflict, students must not forget about their books.

"Even when one hand is holding a knife to protect self, the other hand should hold books," he said.

He said the people, most importantly youths, should use Manipuri language more often and reduce dependence on other languages such as English and Hindi.

"We should reduce and shun the use of English and Hindi words as fillers when we speak Manipuri," he said.

Dr N Sanatomba said studying the current state of Manipur language, literature and culture and the reasons for their decline is necessary to address the problems and promote them.

Many scholars in the field of language, literature and culture presented papers during the seminar.

KB Ingaremba, founder chairman of Northeast Biography Forum and Nongmaithem Kirankumar Singh, advisor Writers' Platform attended the seminar.