Attributing Mukna Kangjei to Mizoram ; Imphal writes to Delhi to correct blunder
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 29 2024:
The Commissioner of Education (S), H Gyan Prakash has sounded the Director of State Council of Educational Research and Training, Delhi to recall the edition of the book which falsely attributed Mukna Kangjei to Mizoram and reprint the same after making necessary corrections.
In a letter addressed to the Director, SCERT, Delhi, H Gyan Prakash pointed out the error on page 24 of the DIET book/Resource Support Material "Learning Through Traditional Games" published by the District Institute of Education & Training (SCERT), Rajinder Nagar, Delhi and printed by Raj Printers in 2023-2024 wherein the heading was printed as "Mizoram-Mukna Kangjei" instead of "Manipur-Mukna Kangjei" .
The letter stated that although the contents of the chapter attributes Mukna Kangjei to Manipur, the error in the heading has sparked controversy and the Government has also received complaints with the matter being reported in local and National media as well.
The Education (S) Commissioner urged the SCERT Director to take necessary action including recalling this edition of the book and issuing reprints after correction.
Meanwhile, highlighting the seriousness of this issue in a statement, Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, MoS, has called for an enquiry to ascertain the facts.
He added that if the mistakes pointed out in the media reports are found to be correct, "the authorities concerned may be directed to carry out the required corrections in the textbook at the earliest" .
In addition, the Manipur People's Party (MPP) and South East Asia Cultural Organisation (SEACO) have demanded swift rectification of the gross error in the book published by SCERT under NCERT, New Delhi.
A statement issued by N Mangol Singh, general secretary, Media, MPP strongly condemned the blunder and demanded the State Government to instruct the NCERT, New Delhi to make the necessary correction.
Asserting that there are many instances where other States have laid claims over Meitei assets, MPP pointed out the case of "U-Morok" .
The MPP further urged NCERT, New Delhi to issue a clarification for their false report on Mukna Kangjei.
In addition, SEACO in a statement said that falsely attributing Meitei intellectual, indigenous and cultural properties to other entities is a recurring incident.
Asserting that the blunder has humiliated the people, SEACO highlighted the need for the Meitei diaspora scattered across the globe to keep a check on such false attributions of items of Meitei heritage to other communities or States in books, magazines, journals and on social media.
SEACO also stressed on the need to attain patent rights over such Meitei intellectual, indigenous and cultural properties to prevent any similar issues.
Urging people to be aware of "intellectual and indigenous property war" waged on the Meitei community, SEACO called for appropriate action from the authorities and swift rectification of the error.