MEELAL observes 17th Mayek Chatpa Numit
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 18 2022: Meetei Erol Eyek Loinasillol Apunba Lup (MEELAL), Kangleipak observed its 17th Mayek Chatpa Numit at Manipur Press Club, here on Wednesday.

The observance was attended by Manipuri Department, Manipur University Assistant Professor Dr Naorem Sanatomba as chief guest and MEELAL president Yanglem Biren Meetei as president while MEELAL advisor Moirangthem Naodalenkhomba Meetei, Meetei National Front president Chingsubam Wangambi Leima and MEELAL Academic Forum member Maibam Rajen were present as guests of honour.

Speaking on the occasion, MEELAL secretary organisation Naorem Nongmailembi Leima recounted that it was first set up on August 18, 2003 at Standard English School in Keishampat by MEELAL founder (late) Chingsubam Akaba.

After the then government refused to accept the usage of the script, MEELAL along with other likeminded student bodies staged an intense protest on February 10, 2005.The protests continued after no amicable solution could be reached.

As such, the former CM O Ibobi began talks with MEELAL on May 18, 2006 and produced a paper on the same.

She continued: "During the struggle, 505 MEELAL and DESAM volunteers were detained and later released from Sajiwa jail under some conditions.

MEELAL has been observing May 18 as 'Meetei Mayek Numit' every year and also holding various programmes and activities.

However, the programmes were postponed/delay owing to the Covid-19 pandemic" .

She then observed that for this year, almost all the signboards and hoardings have large Meetei Mayek inscriptions.

Thus, MEELAL selected 13 establishments bearing large Meetei Mayek scripts, namely Red Studio, Max, Samkak, Juz Pick, Topcem, Ching-Tam Sin-lam, Exide, Sindam Book House, SBI Bank, XIAOMI, Bandhan Bank, and HDFC Bank, to honour them, she conveyed, while drawing attention to MEELAL's activities for the future.

She then informed that after MEELAL protested, a committee was formed to see to the implementation of Meetei Mayek in all Bengali script local dailies by January, 2023.Additionally, MEELAL taught Meetei Mayek at various places of Assam for 10 days starting from April 4 .

She then expressed belief that the people would extend their support and encouragement in this matter, while adding that the true owners of the language and script are the people and MEELAL is just a messenger.

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