State to propose classical language status for Manipuri
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 20 2024: Education minister Th Basanta Kumar has confided that the government has finalised the draft proposal for submission to the centre to seek classical language status for Manipuri language.

The minister made the disclosure during the 33rd Manipuri Language Day celebration organised by Manipuri Language Day State Level Celebration Committee in association with Art and Culture Department and Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation (DLPI) on Tuesday.

The event held at the auditorium of Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) commemorated the day Manipuri language was enlisted in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

Works minister Govindas Konthoujam and education minister Th Basanta Kumar attended the event as chief guest and president respectively while Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba and Hill Areas Committee chairman Dinganglung Gangmei were present as guests of honour.

Manipur State Award for Literature for the year 2021, 2022 and 2023 were also presented on the occasion with Irungbam Deven presented the award for 2021 for his poetry book 'Malangbana Kari Hai'; award for 2022 handed over to Maibam Nabakishwar for his short story book 'Thamoigee Mari', and the award for 2023 given to Prof Nahakpam Aruna for her critical analysis book 'Ahingba Upanyash' .

Addressing the gathering, minister Basanta Kumar highlighted the government's initiative to promote Manipuri language, culture and literature.

He said that in addition to the existing literary award presented by the government, three more state awards - Manipur State Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature, Manipur State Award for Translation, and Manipur State Young Writers' Award, will be added.

Acknowledging the history of Manipuri language, he said that the government has finalised the draft proposal for seeking classical language status and the same will be submitted to the ministry concerned soon.

In his address, Govindas Konthoujam said that Google Translate has already added Manipuri language in its machine translation service.

While the government is taking up several initiatives to promote the language and script, differences in opinion often become roadblocks, he said, while stressing the need for coordination among different groups to focus on a single path.

Recalling his early days of studying in Kolkata, the minister said that he had many Bengali friends some of whom often cracked jokes about people of Manipur borrowing Bengali script to write Manipuri language.

At that time, one of his friends from Manipur brought a Meetei Mayek book and told the Bengali friends that Manipuris have their own script, Govindas said, while sharing the moment of pride he felt at that particular moment.

Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba spoke of his activities in the Parliament to promote Manipuri language including proposals for conferring classical language status and inclusion in the currency notes.

Moreover, he is pursuing for inclusion of Meetei Mayek in the UPSC examinations for writing Manipuri, subject, he said, while expressing confidence that his pressures will bear fruit.

He also told the gathering that chief minister himself had sent letters to the Prime Minister once, and five times to UPSC in this regard.

He had also discussed the matter with the CM for personally visiting Delhi in this matter, Sanajaoba added.

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