MIYC encourages students to opt Manipuri subject
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 11 2024: While observing that number of students in the state opting Manipuri language, an endangering language, in schools is declining alarmingly, Manipur International Youth Centre (MIYC) has appealed to students who are pursing education under CBSE, BSEM and COHSEM to opt Manipuri as a subject in schools so as to save the native language from becoming extinct.

In a release, MIYC coordinator T Parijat Singh informed that around 14,000 students studying in 84 CBSE schools in the state appeared Class X and XII examinations for academic session 2023-24.For Class X, 2731 students opted Manipuri subject and only 783 students take Ma-nipuri subject in Class XII.

Out of37,715 students who appeared in the examination conducted by BSEM, 22,443 took Manipuri subject while 21,125 out of 31,267 students took Manipuri in the examination conducted by COHSEM.

Though there are students taking Manipuri subject under BSEM and COHSEM, the number of students taking Manipuri subject in CBSE schools is declining sharply, he noted.

Recalling that a report published by the UNESCO in 2009 declared Manipuri, language as an endangered language, Parijat highlighted that schools, colleges and other educational institutions are vital for the promotion of the native language.

He further stated that India's deduction and reductionist policy terribly impacted the languages of small communities in the North East region.

Under 'One Language, one religion, one culture' policy, they tried to swallow the languages of small communities.

In CBSE schools which are being directly controlled by the Government of India, several programmes have been taken up under 'Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat' .

In such schools, they taught about the identity, culture and festivals of mainland India but neglected the history, culture and festivals of small communities, he asserted.

Parijat then stated that textbooks published by NCERT wrongly wrote history, culture, tradition, indigenous games of Manipur.

Encouraging students to resolve for opting Manipuri language as a subject from academic session 2024-25 so as to preserve the culture, history and language, he said that communities whose languages have become extinct cannot preserve their culture, history and attain political, social and economic right.

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