Many celebrate Manipuri Language Day
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 20 2025: With the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 focussing on teaching students in own mother tongues, the government of Manipur is also making efforts to teach all subjects from class I to X in Manipuri language.

Once these come into action, it would greatly help in preserving and promoting Manipuri language, said Ghanapriya (GP) Women's College Manipuri Department associate professor Dr Waikhom Ramesh Meitei.

Speaking at the celebration of 34th Manipuri Language Day organised jointly by DM College of Arts and PG Department of Manipuri, Dhanamanjuri University (DMU) at DM College of Arts auditorium on Wednesday, Dr Ramesh informed that a Committee formed under the Language Department is finalising plans to have all subjects from Class I to X taught in Manipur language.

Recounting the public movement and struggles for inclusion of Manipuri Language in the Eight Schedule, he expressed gratitude to all who shouldered immense responsibility for preservation of the language.

Although Manipuri is now included in the Eight Schedule, people are only recently beginning to avail the benefits of the same.

Civil service examination candidates can now appear for the examination either in Meetei Mayek or Bengali script, he maintained, while emphasising that more efforts are needed to urge the NTA to apply the same option in medical entrance examinations.

Presided over by DM College of Arts Department of Manipuri head Prof Y Kunjabihari, the celebration was attended by DMU School of Humanities dean and DM College of Arts principal Prof S Lanchenba Meetei as chief guest, and Manipur University School of Humanities ex-dean Prof P Nabachandra Singh and DMU PG Department of Manipur head Prof H Sumatibala Devi as guests of honour.

In his speech, Prof S Lanchenba recounted DM College of Arts teachers went on hunger strikes to strengthen the movement for inclusion of Manipuri Language in the Eight Schedule.

Later, government employees also participated in the movement, which then went on to help the movement become a success.

On the other hand, Meetei Erol Eyek Loinasillol Apunba Lup (MEELAL), Kangleipak celebrated the 34th Manipur Language Day at its head office on Wednesday.

According to a press release by its secretary publicity S Arun Meetei, the celebration as attended by MU associate Prof Dr Naorem Sanatomba, MEELAL former advisor Dr Sadokpam Bijoy (Thoungam-ba), legal advisor advocate Ngangom Premkumar, president Khaidem Ingochan and secretary general Langoijam Nongmailembi Leima as chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.

Manipur People's Party (MPP); AIYF, AISF, AMNM, Progressive Writers' Association (PWA), IPTA, and ISCUR Manipur; Wakhallon Mannaba Apunba (WAMA) Kangleipak; Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Jiribam; Manipuri Department and Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of CI College, Bishnupur; Women Society for Cultural Heritage, (WOSCH), Kakching Khunyai Leikai; Macha Chanu Kakching and Kha Manipur College, Kakching; Manipuri Department and IQAC of Kha Manipur College, Kakching; and Directorate of Kokborok and Other Minority Language, Tripura also celebrated the 34th Manipuri Language Day.

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