Kshetri Bira conferred State Literary Award
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 27 2013 : Recognizing his contribution towards enrichment of Manipuri literature, the Department of Education (S) has conferred the Manipur State Award for Literature, 2012 to renowned Manipuri writer Kshetri Bira for his work "Nangbu Ngaibada", a story book published in 2009 .

The award was handed over to the recipient by Governor Gurbachan Jagat during a function held at Kangla Hall here today.

The award carries a cash prize of Rs 2 lakhs, a shawl and a citation.

The award presentation function was attended by Governor Gurbachan Jagat, Education Minister M Okendro and renowned lyricist B Jayentakumar Sharma as Chief Guest, President and Guest of Honour respectively.

Speaking on the occasion, Gurbachan Jagat noted that during the last few decades, Manipuri literature has grown tremendously with books on different genres available.

However, this is unknown to the outside world and hence the richness of Manipuri literature is not known to those who do not know Manipuri.

Governor Gurbachan Jagat handing over the award to Bira

While appreciating the Education Department for its initiative in recognizing outstanding creative writers, the Governor, nonetheless, stressed on the need to translate Manipuri works into English and other languages.

"This will enhance the popularity of the work and if this is done, many of our creative writers will become household names both inside and outside India.

This will also help our creative writers in getting their books published", the Governor said, while pointing out that there is serious dearth of publishers in the State.

The Governor observed that Manipuri language, which is one of the 22 scheduled languages under the Constitution of India, and having its own script is regarded as one of the most advanced of the Tibeto-Burmese languages spoken in India.

Though, some scholars have contested against classification of Manipuri language as Tibeto-Burmese, most have accepted the classification made in the Linguistic Survey of India (LSI) conducted under the leadership of George Abraham Grierson, ICS, from 1894 to 1928 .

Incidentally, LSI has described 364 languages and dialects, while the 1991 Census recorded 1576 mother tongues with separate grammatical structures, he added. The Governor also pointed out that though conferring of Manipur State Award for Literature will no doubt encourage the creative writers of the State, but more needs to be done and more support and patronage need to come from the State Government.

Only the State can provide the needed patronage in a systematic manner for the growth of any language.

Delivering the Presidential speech, Minister M Okendro stated that the State Government is pushing hard to develop the Manipuri language which got included in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution long ago.

For that, Manipur Official Language Act is all set to be revised.

Apart from this, a separate Language Directorate is to be made functional from the current year.

He also appealed to all concerned not to call bandhs or blockades on April 28 in view of TET to be conducted.