Beryl Thanga bags literature award
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, November 18 2021: Governor La Ganesan on Thursday conferred the 12th Manipur State Award for Literature to Beryl Thanga alias Laishram Biramangol (65) for his book 'Ei Amadi Adungeigi Ithat', a novel published in 2015 .

The awardee was selected for the year 2020 by a Board of Eminent persons set up by the government.

Speaking at the ceremony held at Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur' Dance Academy, Ganesan congratulated Thanga and conveyed his appreciation to directorate of Language Planning & Implementation, Manipur for the initiative taken to recognise outstanding writers for their contribution towards the enrichment of Manipuri literature and hoped that this initiative will encourage other writers of the state.

Ganesan stated that Manipuri language, one of the 22 scheduled languages recognised under the Constitution of India, with its own script is regarded as the most advanced of the Tibeto-Burmese languages spoken in India.

Though, some scholars contested the classification of Manipuri language as Tibeto-Burmese, most accepted the classification made in the Linguistic Survey of India (LSI) conducted under the leadership of George Abraham Grierson of the ICS from 1894 to 1928.Incidentally, the LSI described 364 languages and dialects, while the 1991 Census recorded 1576 mother tongues with separate grammatical structures, he noted.

The chief guest further stated that in the fast changing global environment, with English becoming the lingua franca, languages with lesser number of speakers are being wiped out and those with more pushing out the smaller ones.

It has been assessed that one language or dialect is becoming extinct every two weeks in the world.

Hence, for a language with limited number of people speaking it, Manipuri and its sister dialects face tremendous challenges for its survival for posterity.

As such, the richness of the Indian literature is mainly contributed by works in different Indian languages, many of which await translation into either English or other languages with wider reach.

Hence, this richness is left unknown to those who do not know the particular native language.

This is true for Manipuri literature also as during the last few decades, Manipuri literature has grown tremendously, with books on different genre available.

However, this is almost unknown to the outside world, he added.

While appreciating the department for its initiative in recognising outstanding creative talent, the Governor also said that more efforts is necessary for translating Manipuri works into English and other languages to enhance popularity of the work.

He also expressed belief that, if this is done, many creative writers will become household names both in and outside India.

This will also help in getting publishers for our creative writers who ultimately publish their own work as there is serious dearth of publishers.

Governor La Ganesan advised the audience that awareness on Manipuri literature is very small, especially with the influence of TV which has taken the younger generation away from reading even though creative writers are second to none even if the number of creative writers who received Padma Awards in literature and education from Manipur is still very less.

Expressing confidence that conferring the Manipur State Award for Literature will encourage creative writers, he also hoped that more support and patronage will come from the state government as it can provide the needed patronage in a systematic manner.

The award presentation ceremony was also attended by chief minister N Biren Singh as functional president and Education minister S Rajen Singh as guest of honour.

In his address, N Biren congratulated Beryl Thanga for receiving such prestigious award for Literature.

He mentioned that the same book has also received various literary awards such as Sahitya Akademi Award 2019, State Kala Akademi Award 2016-17, BM Novel Award etc.

Such books have huge relevance in today's life, he added.

CM Biren, who presided over the awards event, said that Manipur is heavily blessed in the field of sports, literature, academics and others.

However, lack of spiritual connection has affected the human-value discipline, thus weakening the close bonds between all concerned.

Informing that efforts are being made to set up well-equipped libraries in all district headquarters and also to produce books based on the rare folk songs, Khullang Eshei and storybooks on important incidents of the state; Biren further assured that the government will do the needful to include the cultural traditions and history of the north eastern states in the syllabus of SCERT.

He then said that we must not forget the role played by authors/writers of the state.

The awards ceremony was also attended commissioner (education) M Harekrishna, Language Planning & Implementation director Th Chitra Devi and others.

Mention may be made that this award is sponsored by the state government since 2008-09 to honour Manipuri writers in recognition of their contribution to Manipuri Literature.

The award is given every year to the author of the most outstanding book, first published during the last five years immediately preceding the year of the award.

At present, the award includes a plaque, a citation, cash component of Rs 3 lakh and a shawl.

The Manipur State Award for Literature is the highest official recognition for Manipur literature in the state.

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