Meitei associate official language movement

Last updated

Movement of Meitei language to be included as an associate official language of Assam
Meitei language written in Meitei script.svg
"Meitei Lon" (literally meaning "Meitei language"), written in Meitei script
English nameMovement of Meitei language to be included as an associate official language of Assam [lower-alpha 1]
Time2020 - 2021
Duration2020 - 2021
Venue Northeast India (predominantly from Assam, Manipur and Tripura)
Location Northeast India (predominantly from Assam, Manipur and Tripura)
Also known as
  • Associate official language movement of Meitei language
  • Associate official language movement of Manipuri language
  • Meitei associate official language movement
  • Manipuri associate official language movement
  • Meitei language movement in Assam
  • Manipuri language movement in Assam
Type social movement
Theme
CauseExemption of all the candidates who do not appear the exams in either of the three mandatory languages, Assamese, Bodo or Bengali, without provisions of any alternative language, in job recruitments conducted by the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) of the Government of Assam (Assam Public Services Competitive Examination (Amendment) Rules, 2019)
Target
Patron(s)
Organised by
  • Government of Manipur
  • All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) [1]
  • Assam Manipuri Meira Paibi Lup [2]
  • Assam Manipuri Sahitya Parishad [3]
  • All Assam Manipuri Muslim Youth Front [4]
  • All Assam Manipuri Students Union (AAMSU) [5] [6] [7] [8]
  • Guwahati Manipuri Coordination Committee (GMCC) [9]
  • Manipuri Youth Front of Assam (MYFA) [10] [11] [12]
  • Union of Association of Manipuri Writers [13]
  • Youth's Action Committee for Protection of Indigenous People (YACPIP) [14]
Participants

The social movement of Meitei language (officially known as Manipuri language) to be included as an associate official language of the Government of Assam is advocated by several literary, political, social associations and organisations as well as notable individual personalities of Northeast India (predominantly from Assam, Manipur and Tripura). [22]

Contents

During November 2021, the Government of Assam declared the removal of mandatoriness of any particular language in the job recruitment exams conducted by the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC). [23] [24]

Background

On 8 October 2020, Sarbananda Sonowal, the then Chief Minister of Assam, declared an announcement that the aspirants of the civil services from the Barak Valley who do not study either Assamese, Bodo or Bengali languages will not be allowed to appear in the qualifying language paper in the exams conducted by the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) CEE. [25] [26]

The job recruitments conducted by the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) of the Government of Assam has made it mandatory for all the candidates to appear job exams only in Assamese, Bodo or Bengali without providing any alternative language for people who studied in other languages like Meitei language in Assam, starting from primary level to above. [27]

As some languages are made mandatory in the academics of Assam while Meitei language is not, in the near future, the disappearance of Meitei language in Assam will be the nearest possible outcome because students who do not choose the option for the mandatory languages in their educational careers are not allowed to appear in many Assam state government jobs. Due to such a law imposed by the Government of Assam, many students have hesitantly denied Meitei language medium in Assam. [28] [29] [30] [31]

Efforts of socio-political leaders

During September 2020, Leishemba Sanajaoba, a Rajya Sabha MP of Manipur, urged Sarbananda Sonowal, the then Chief Minister of Assam, for the recognition of Meitei language as an 'associate' official language of Assam. According to him, with the recognition of Meitei language as an associate official language, the identity, history, culture and tradition of Manipuris residing in Assam could be protected and preserved. Earlier, Nongthombam Biren Singh, the Chief Minister of Manipur, had discussed with the Chief Minister of Assam, about the matter on the inclusion of Meitei language in the list of subjects in the examinations conducted by Assam Public Service Commission (APSC). [32] [33] [34] [35]

During December 2020, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, a Member of Parliament of Lok Sabha, sought attention of the House for the recognition of Meitei language as an associate official language of Assam. Highlighting about the bill passed by the Assam Legislative Assembly introducing Assamese language as a mandatory subject in all the educational institutions in Assam from Class I to X, Ranjan said that Meitei language should be declared as an associate official language of Assam in accordance to the "Article 347" of the Indian Constitution, which is a special provision for the recognition of a language spoken by a section of the population of a State to be officially recognised entirely or partially of the state. [36]

Public grievances and protests

During July 2020, the "Youth's Action Committee for Protection of Indigenous People" (YACPIP) and the "Manipuri Youth Front of Assam" (MYFA), Silchar, demanded the recognition of Meitei language as associate official language of Assam so as the Manipuri people can apply for jobs in their mother language. [37] The association sent a memorandum to the President of India through the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar. In the memorandum, they have stated that Meitei language is legitimate to be an associate official language in Assam, as there are 102 Meitei language medium schools recognised by Government of Assam and Meitei language is being taught in the schools since 1956 till present. [38] [39] [40]

During September 2020, the Guwahati Manipuri Coordination Committee (GMCC) submitted a memorandum to Sarbananda Sonowal regarding the inclusion of Meitei language in the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) examinations. [41]

During October 2020, in reaction to the announcement of Assam Chief Minister, regarding the exemption of people, who do not study in either of the mandatory languages, from government job exams, various associations and organisations led by the "Manipuri Youths Front of Assam" (MYFA) burnt the effigy of Sarbananda Sonowal (the then Chief Minister) and Himanta Biswa Sarma (the then Education Minister). They demanded Meitei language to be declared as an associate official language in Assam. [42] [43] [44]

During September 2021, the Central Committee of the "All Assam Manipuri Students Union" (AAMSU) demanded that Meitei language should be included as one of the associate official languages of Assam in order to protect the language from getting disappeared. [45] [46] [47] [48]

See also

Notes

  1. The word "associate" is used instead of "associated" in most sources. So, the title of this article about the event is also named using the word "associate".

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Languages of India</span> Overview of the languages spoken in the Republic of India

Languages spoken in the Republic of India belong to several language families, the major ones being the Indo-Aryan languages spoken by 78.05% of Indians and the Dravidian languages spoken by 19.64% of Indians, both families together are sometimes known as Indic languages. Languages spoken by the remaining 2.31% of the population belong to the Austroasiatic, Sino–Tibetan, Tai–Kadai, and a few other minor language families and isolates. As per the People's Linguistic Survey of India, India has the second highest number of languages (780), after Papua New Guinea (840). Ethnologue lists a lower number of 456.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manipur</span> State in northeastern India

Manipur is a state in northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It also borders two regions of Myanmar, Sagaing Region to the east and Chin State to the south. The state covers an area of 22,327 square kilometres (8,621 sq mi). The official and most widely spoken language is Meitei language. Native to the Meitei people, it is also used as a lingua franca by smaller communities, who speak a variety of other Sino-Tibetan languages. Manipur has been at the crossroads of Asian economic and cultural exchange for more than 2,500 years. It connects the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia to Southeast Asia, East Asia, Siberia, regions in the Arctic, Micronesia and Polynesia enabling migration of people, cultures and religions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei language</span> Sino-Tibetan language

Meitei, also known as Manipuri, is a Tibeto-Burman language of northeast India. It is spoken by around 1.8 million people, predominantly in the state of Manipur, but also by smaller communities in the rest of the country and in parts of neighbouring Myanmar and Bangladesh. It is native to the Meitei people, and within Manipur, it serves as an official language and a lingua franca. It was used as a court language in the historic Manipur Kingdom and is presently included among the 22 scheduled languages of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei people</span> Predominant ethnic group of Manipur

The Meitei people, also known as the Manipuri people, are the predominant ethnic group of Manipur in Northeast India. They speak Meitei language, one of the 22 official languages of the Indian Republic and the sole official language of Manipur. Many anthropologist classified Meitei goes through a process of Sankritisation and now exhibition characteristic of Hindu. Now, a social movement within the community is happening. The Meiteis primarily settled in the Imphal Valley region in modern-day Manipur, though a sizable population has settled in the other Indian states of Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. There is also a notable presence of Meitei in the neighboring countries of Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Meitei ethnic group represents about 53% of Manipur's population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bishnupriya Manipuri language</span> Indo-Aryan language spoken in India and Bangladesh

Bishnupriya Manipuri, also known as Bishnupriya Meitei or simply as Bishnupriya, is an Indo-Aryan language belonging to the Bengali–Assamese linguistic sub-branch. It is a creole of Bengali language and Meitei language and it still retains its pre-Bengali features. It is spoken in parts of the Indian states of Assam, Tripura and Manipur as well as in the Sylhet Division of Bangladesh. It uses the Bengali-Assamese script as its writing system. Bishnupriya Manipuri, being a member of the Eastern Indo-Aryan languages, was evolved from Magadhi Prakrit. So, its origin is associated with Magadha realm. The Government of Tripura categorized Bishnnupriya Manipuri under the "Tribal Language Cell" of the State Council of Educational Research and Training. Its speakers are also given the "Other Backward Classes" status by the Assam Government and notably, there is no legal status of the Bishnupriyas in Manipur. In the 2020s, the Bishnupriya speaking people started demanding that the Assam Government should give them the status of “indigenous people” of Assam and treat the same like other indigenous communities of the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei script</span> Writing system used to write Meitei language

The Meitei script, also known as the Meetei script, is an abugida used for the Meitei language, the official language of Manipur state and one of the 22 official languages of India. It is one of the official scripts of the Indian Republic. It is also popularly known as the Kanglei script and the Kok Sam Lai script. Its earliest known evidence of existence dates back to the 6th century AD coins, engraving the Meitei letters, as verified by the various publications of the National Sahitya Akademi. It was used until the 18th century, when it was replaced by the Bengali alphabet. A few manuscripts survive. In the 20th century, the script has experienced a resurgence, and is again being used. Starting from 2021, Meitei script was officially used by the Government of Manipur, along with the Bengali-Assamese script, to write the Meitei language, as per "The Manipur Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2021".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manipuri Sahitya Parishad</span> A literary club for Meitei language

The Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, also termed as the Manipur Sahitya Parishad, is a literary council dedicated to the active promotion and the development of the literary works in Meitei language in India. It takes one of the vital roles for the development of the Meitei language and Meitei culture, in national as well as international levels. It has its branches in Imphal, Jiribam, Bishnupur and Thoubal inside Manipur and in Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya outside Manipur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinema of Manipur</span> Indian filmmaking in Manipur

The Cinema of Manipur is the film industry based in Manipur, India. It includes not only Meitei language movies but all the films made in different languages of the different communities in Manipur. The Manipuri film industry was born when Matamgi Manipur was released on 9 April 1972. Before this, there were many attempts to make a film in the state, the most significant being Mainu Pemcha in 1948 which was left incomplete due to various problems.

Romi Meitei is an Indian film director and lyricist who works in Manipuri films. He is a recipient of several awards at several film festivals organised in India and abroad and has directed movies for around two decades. Thoiba Thoibi, Inga Nonglakta, Manithoiba, Natephamda Tero, Chumthang Makhong, Mikithi and Dharmagi Mingda Imagidamak are some of the well-known movies he directed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yumjao Leima</span>

Yumjao Leima or Yumjao Lairembi or Yumjao Lairemma is the mother goddess of house, household, royalty, rule and power in Meitei mythology and religion. She is designated as the all time ruling Queen Mother. Legend says she assumes a human form in white clothes and blesses kings. She is one of the divine incarnations of Leimarel Sidabi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei language day</span> Annual event dedicated to Meitei language

Meitei Language Day, formally known as Manipuri Language Day, is observed annually on 20 August. It is a commemoration of the day on which Meitei language was included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India and made one of the languages with official status in India on 20 August 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation</span> Directorate of the Government of Manipur

Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation (DLPI) is a directorate of the Government of Manipur in charge of the language planning and the implementation of policies of Meitei language (officially known as Manipuri language) as well as other indigenous vernaculars of Manipur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei classical language movement</span>

The social movement of Meitei language to achieve the officially recognised status of the "Classical language of India" is advocated by various literary, political, social associations and organisations as well as notable individual personalities of Bangladesh, Myanmar, Northeast India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei language movement</span> Linguistic movement

The Meitei language movement, also known as the Manipuri language movement, is any linguistic movement undertaken by the literary, political and social associations as well as organisations, advocating for a change or development of Meitei language in various critical, discriminative and unfavorable circumstances and situations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei linguistic purism movement</span>

The social movement of Meitei language to attain linguistic purism is advocated by literary, political, social associations and organisations as well as notable individual personalities of Bangladesh, Myanmar, Northeast India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 in Manipur</span>

Events in the year 2022 in Manipur

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kanglā Shā</span> Meitei dragon lion

In Meitei mythology and religion, Kangla Sa, also spelled as Kangla Sha, is a guardian dragon lion. It has a lion's body and a dragon's head, with two horns. It is considered sacred to the Meitei heritage. It is a royal symbol of the Meitei royalties . The most remarkable statues dedicated to "Kangla Sa" stand inside the Kangla.

The Heingang Ching ), also known as the Meitei: Marjing Hill, is a hill in Heingang, Imphal East district of Kangleipak. In Meitei mythology and religion (Sanamahism), Heingang Ching is a sacred mountain and the home of God Marjing, the ancient Meitei deity of Sagol Kangjei, Khong Kangjei, and Meitei horse.

The Nongmaiching Ching, also known as the Selloi Langmai Ching, is a mountain in Imphal Valley, Manipur. It has an altitude of around 5,133 feet (1,565 m). It is a holy pilgrimage site for the Meitei people. In Meitei mythology and religion (Sanamahism), it is a sacred mountain and the abode of God Nongpok Ningthou and Goddess Panthoibi. In Meitei folklore, the Nongmaiching is described as the hill that produces "the seven days of a week".

References

  1. "'Make Manipuri an associate official language of Assam' campaign continues; AMSU backs MYFA : 25th jul20 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 26 August 2022. All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) has endorsed the movement carried out by Manipuris in Assam, demanding the recognition of Manipuri language as an associate official language of Assam.
  2. Staff Correspondent (15 September 2010). "Stir to include Manipuri as associate official language in Assam". assamtribune.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  3. "Demands to Include Manipuri Language in APSC Exams Raised". www.guwahatiplus.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  4. Staff Correspondent (15 September 2010). "Stir to include Manipuri as associate official language in Assam". assamtribune.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  5. "Make Manipuri associate official language of Assam: AAMSU : 22nd sep21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  6. "Manipuri language should be one of Assam's associate official languages: AAMSU". Imphal Free Press. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  7. Webdesk, Time8 (22 September 2021). "AAMSU demands Associate Official Language status to Manipuri language". TIME8. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  8. "AAMSU for Associate Official Language status : 22nd sep21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  9. "Demands to Include Manipuri Language in APSC Exams Raised". www.guwahatiplus.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  10. "Assam: Youth body demands recognition of Manipuri as associate official language". India Today NE (in Hindi). 1 July 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  11. "Make Manipuri language official: MYFA : 14th jul20 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  12. "Recognise Manipuri language as Assam's associate official language : MYFA". Imphal Free Press. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  13. "Union of Association of Manipuri Writers backs MYFA's movement : 03rd aug20 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  14. "YACPIP appeals Assam Govt to include Manipuri Language as Associate official Language : 15th jul20 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  15. "Manipuri as associate official language in Assam Sanajaoba approaches Sonowal". www.thesangaiexpress.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  16. S, Vangamla Salle K. (24 September 2020). "Manipur titular king writes to CM Sonowal to recognise Manipuri language in Assam". EastMojo. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  17. Desk, Sentinel Digital (25 September 2020). "Manipur's titular king Leishemba urges Assam CM to include Manipuri as an associate official language - Sentinelassam". www.sentinelassam.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  18. "MP Sanajaoba urges Assam CM to include Manipuri language as associate language of Assam | Pothashang News". Pothashang. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  19. "Manipuri as associate official language in Assam Sanajaoba approaches Sonowal (About Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh)". www.thesangaiexpress.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022. Earlier, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had discussed with his Assam counterpart on the inclusion of Manipuri language in the list of subjects in the examinations conducted by Assam Public Service Commission (APSC).
  20. S, Vangamla Salle K. (24 September 2020). "Manipur titular king writes to CM Sonowal to recognise Manipuri language in Assam (About Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh)". EastMojo. Retrieved 26 August 2022. Earlier, Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh had discussed with his Assam counterpart for the inclusion of Manipuri language to the list of subjects in the examinations conducted by Assam Public Service Commission (APSC).
  21. "List Manipuri as associate official language in Assam: Ranjan in LS : 21st dec20 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  22. Laithangbam, Iboyaima (27 September 2020). "Assam to look into demand to include Manipuri in list of associate languages". The Hindu . ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  23. Mukut Das (27 November 2021). "Stir over withdrawal of mandatory Assamese paper from APSC exam | Guwahati News - Times of India". The Times of India . Retrieved 26 August 2022. Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, after the cabinet meeting in Bongaigaon district on Wednesday, said earlier, knowledge of Assamese was mandatory for candidates to appear in the APSC exam. But this rule created confusion in the minds of students, who have studied in English medium schools. "The cabinet has taken the decision to withdraw the language paper for the test," he said.
  24. "Assamese, Language Paper not Compulsory for APSC: CM Sarma - News Live". 25 November 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2022. Addressing the media after the cabinet meeting, Sarma said that earlier knowing Assamese was mandatory for the candidates to appear in the APSC and ACS exams but it seems to create some confusion for the students of Assam who studied in English medium. Therefore, the state cabinet has taken the decision to withdraw the language paper for the test conducted for APSC and ACS, he said.
  25. Today, North East (9 October 2020). "Manipuri Bodies Burn Effigies of CM Sonowal, Himanta Biswa; Demands Manipuri as Associate Official Language". Northeast Today. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  26. "Manipuri Bodies Demand Manipuri As Associate Official Language In Assam | East Turn News". East Turn. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  27. "List Manipuri as associate official language in Assam: Ranjan in LS : 21st dec20 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  28. "Make Manipuri associate official language of Assam: AAMSU : 22nd sep21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  29. "Manipuri language should be one of Assam's associate official languages: AAMSU". Imphal Free Press. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  30. Webdesk, Time8 (22 September 2021). "AAMSU demands Associate Official Language status to Manipuri language". TIME8. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  31. "Assam: Youth body demands recognition of Manipuri as associate official language". India Today NE (in Hindi). 1 July 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  32. "Manipuri as associate official language in Assam Sanajaoba approaches Sonowal". www.thesangaiexpress.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  33. S, Vangamla Salle K (24 September 2020). "Manipur titular king writes to CM Sonowal to recognise Manipuri language in Assam". EastMojo. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  34. Desk, Sentinel Digital (25 September 2020). "Manipur's titular king Leishemba urges Assam CM to include Manipuri as an associate official language - Sentinelassam". www.sentinelassam.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  35. "MP Sanajaoba urges Assam CM to include Manipuri language as associate language of Assam | Pothashang News". Pothashang. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  36. "List Manipuri as associate official language in Assam: Ranjan in LS : 21st dec20 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  37. "YACPIP appeals Assam Govt to include Manipuri Language as Associate official Language : 15th jul20 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  38. "Assam: Youth body demands recognition of Manipuri as associate official language". India Today NE (in Hindi). 1 July 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  39. "Make Manipuri language official: MYFA : 14th jul20 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  40. "Recognise Manipuri language as Assam's associate official language : MYFA". Imphal Free Press. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  41. "Demands to Include Manipuri Language in APSC Exams Raised". www.guwahatiplus.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  42. "Manipuri Bodies in Assam Burn Effigies of Sarbananda Sonowal and Himanta Biswa". www.guwahatiplus.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  43. Today, North East (9 October 2020). "Manipuri Bodies Burn Effigies of CM Sonowal, Himanta Biswa; Demands Manipuri as Associate Official Language". Northeast Today. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  44. "Manipuri Bodies Demand Manipuri As Associate Official Language In Assam | East Turn News". East Turn. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  45. "Make Manipuri associate official language of Assam: AAMSU : 22nd sep21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  46. "Manipuri language should be one of Assam's associate official languages: AAMSU". Imphal Free Press. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  47. Webdesk, Time8 (22 September 2021). "AAMSU demands Associate Official Language status to Manipuri language". TIME8. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  48. "AAMSU for Associate Official Language status : 22nd sep21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 26 August 2022.