MP Sanajaoba rues inability to sign in MM
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 18 2024: Titular king of Manipur and Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba conceded that he felt ashamed for not able to put his signature in Meetei Mayek (MM) in the Parliament despite the fact that Manipuri language is listed in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.

In his address as chief guest of the 22nd foundation day of Meetei Erol Eyek Loinasillol Apunba Lup (MEELAL) held at JN Manipur Dance Academy auditorium, here on Sunday, Leishemba Sanajaoba disclosed that he is appending signature in the Parliament in the Roman script as he could not write Meetei Mayek.

Confiding that he felt ashamed when the Rajya Sabha chairman sought reason for signing in English when Manipuri language is listed in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution, the MP said he will learn Meetei Mayek and put his signature in Meetei Mayek in the next session.

Recalling the journey of MEELAL under the leadership of Chingsubam Akaba, who shouldered the responsibility for uniting different activists to promote and develop the original language and script of Manipur, he attributed the current status of Meetei Mayek to MEELAL and its founding leaders, and called for remembering their contributions while striving to realise their goals for further enriching Manipuri language and Meetei Mayek.

Sanajaoba also stated that in his first appearance in the Parliament in the last part of 2020, he brought up the demand for listing Manipuri language among the classical language of the country.

Unfortunately, the state government delayed in submitting relevant documents, possibly due to Covid-19 pandemic and the current crisis.

Nevertheless, the MP said he has been informed about the department concerned almost finalising the documentation process and expressed confidence that as and when the documents are submitted Manipuri would be recognised as the 7th classical language.

He also recounted of raising the demand for inclusion of Meetei Mayek in currency notes and proposal forwarded to the design committee of Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

As the process was delayed, he had sent another letter to RBI, he added.

MEELAL president Khaidem Ingocha presided over the function while BSEM chairmain Akham Joykumar, JNMDA director Pukhrambam Bilash, and HERICOUN advisor Longjam Ratan attended as guests of honour.

Floral tributes were paid to the MEELAL founder late Chingsubam Akaba with winners of the Meetei Mayek competition organised by MEELAL felicitated on the occasion.

MEELAL also honoured Bhagirath, who played major role in encoding Meetei Mayek into Unicode standard.

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