Late members recalled as MEELAL observes 22nd foundation day
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 18 2024: The Meetei Erol Eyek Loinasillol Apunba Lup (MEELAL), Kangleipak observed its 22nd foundation day at the auditorium hall of Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA), today.

Floral tributes were paid to the portraits of the expired members of MEELAL during the observance.

Prizes for a Meitei Mayek competition organised by MEELAL were also distributed to the winners.

Speaking as the chief guest of the function, Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba said that the first demand he raised to the Central leadership after becoming a Parliamentarian was to grant Classical language status to Manipuri language.

Late members recalled as MEELAL observes 22nd foundation day

Saying that only six languages enjoy the 'Classical' status in India viz Tamil (declared in 2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014), the MP said that he has been urging the Centre to recognise Manipuri as a Classical language too.

Saying that there was some delay in finalising the paperwork to send a proposal seeking Classical tag for Manipuri language due to the Covid pandemic and the unrest which the State has been witnessing, the MP added that most of the work to send the proposal is finalised now.

He exuded confidence that the Centre will surely grant Classical status to Manipuri language.

Saying that the Central Government will automatically promote Manipuri language if the latter is listed among the Classical languages, the MP added that students who pursue Manipuri language in MA and PhD courses will benefit greatly if 'our language' gets the Classical tag.

He further stated that students will be interested in learning Manipuri language if it becomes a Classical language of India.

Foreign words which were added to Manipuri language will also be dropped automatically if 'our language' is listed as a Classical language, the MP said.

Sanajaoba went on to state that he has been urging the Centre to allow civil service aspirants who take Manipuri literature as optional paper to give the examination in Meitei Mayek.

The MP continued that he had raised a motion to allow the students to appear for the mains of civil service examination in Manipuri on the floor of the Parliament.

Promotion of Manipuri language should not be the responsibility of MEELAL only, he said while appealing to all to support the radical undertaking.

JNMDA Director Pukhrambam Bilash, BOSEM Chairman Akham Joykumar, HERICOUN advisor Longjam Ratan and MEELAL leader Khaidem Ingocha were the presidium members.