Meitei linguistic purism movement

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Movement of Meitei language to attain linguistic purism
Meitei language written in Meitei script.svg
"Meitei Lon" (literally meaning "Meitei language"), written in Meitei script
English nameMovement of Meitei language to attain linguistic purism
Also known as
  • Manipuri linguistic purism movement
  • Meetei linguistic purism movement
  • Movement of Meitei linguistic purism
  • Movement of Manipuri linguistic purism
  • Movement of Meetei linguistic purism
Type Social movement
Theme
Cause
Target Linguistically pure Meitei language
Organised by
  • Indigenous People's Association of Kangleipak (IPAK) [1] [2]
  • Khongjom War Memorial Trust [3]
  • Meetei Erol Eyek Loinasillol Apunba Lup (MEELAL) transl.United Forum for Safeguarding Manipuri Script and Language [4]
  • South East Asia Cultural Organisation (SEACO) [5] [6]
Participants

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 and Northeast India (prominently Assam, Manipur and Tripura).

Contents

The language is officially known as Manipuri by the government of India, although predominantly it is currently referred as Meitei by the government of Manipur. The former name is an Indo-Aryan exonym which was derived from Sanskrit, whereas the latter is the Tibeto-Burman endonym used natively by the Meitei people. Similarly, the federal government uses Eastern Nagari as the official writing system for Manipuri (an Indic script), whereas the state government uses Meetei Mayek as the writing system for Meitei (a Tibetic script).

Manipuri Lexicon Committee and its efforts

Formation of the Manipuri Lexicon Committee and its warnings

During August 2014, Meetei Erol Eyek Loinasillol Apunba Lup (MEELAL) appealed to all the writers of works in Meitei language in Manipur to avoid the usage of loanwords from other languages. A state level "Manipuri Lexicon Committee" was formed to investigate if there is any word of other languages being used in any books of Meitei literature (Manipuri literature). After the approval of the "Manipuri Lexicon Committee", books for Meitei literature for educational standards, 9th and 10th for the academic session of the year 2015 was availed during September 2014. MEELAL warned that they will cease any book publication if a single book is published, abiding the restrictions on loanwords. MEELAL also announced that the literary departments should not keep any books that abide the restrictions of MEELAL. [7]

Tearing and Banning of books

During December 2014, MEELAL tore and banned three Meitei language books, for containing non native words, after getting examined by the Lexicon Committee. Earlier, the Lexicon Committee summoned the authors of the books for correction of the language, but they didn't come. Afterwards, MEELAL tore and banned the books. The names of the three books are (1) "Kainya" (poem collection) by Punshiba Soibam, (2) "Sahitya Neinarol Anouba" (prose) by Bhorot Sanasam, (3) "Manglan Khara Saktam Khara" (short story) by Khundongbam Gokulchandra. MEELAL will banned the books until the authors came to the office of the MEELAL and the Lexicon Committee for correction. [8]

Verification of academic textbooks for students

During December 2014, MEELAL investigated if there is any content of foreign language words in the books published by the "Board of Secondary Education, Manipur" (BOSEM) for the educational academic standards, 1st to 10th. [9]

Banning of a film and its director

During December 2014, MEELAL banned Meitei language film named "Court Marriage" and its director "Bimol Phibou". The film was banned for the presence of foreign language words. The director was banned for not responding to the organization's summons. [10]

Banning songs of fusional languages in radio and television channels

During February 2015, Meetei Erol Eyek Loinasillol Apunba Lup (MEELAL) took up measures to ban the broadcasting of songs in fusional forms of Meitei language (Manipuri language) on the mass media channels of All India Radio (AIR), Imphal and Doordarshan Kendra (DDK), Imphal. [11]

Airport renaming into non-native language's name and public reactions

During August 2019, the Manipur Legislative Assembly, led by Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh, renamed "Tulihal International Airport" (also known as Imphal International Airport for being located in Imphal) as "Bir Tikendrajit International Airport". It was strongly opposed by SEACO (South East Asia Cultural Organisation) because of not using indigenous term in the renamed title and again because of not consulting people of Manipur before renaming. At the same time, Indigenous People's Association of Kangleipak (IPAK) urged the Manipur Government to withdraw its decision and rename the airport using indigenous names (words). The former official name "Tulihal International Airport" was named after "Ebudhou Tulihal", a Meitei guardian deity of the area of the airport. The association suggested that "Athouba Koirengsana" (which is a Meitei language name of Bir Tikendrajit himself) could be used to rename "Bir Tikendrajit International Airport" as the term "Bir Tikendrajit" isn't indigenous Meitei language name. The association said that the "Athouba Koirengsana International Airport" (a proposed title using indigenous equivalent name of the same person) will be more acceptable to the people of Manipur. The "Khongjom War Memorial Trust" also showed opposition to the government's action. [12] [13] [14]

Plan to rename traditional script into non-native language's name and public reactions

Oppositions to 2021 governmental sanskritisation attempts

During December 2021, Meetei Erol Eyek Loinasillol Apunba Lup (MEELAL) showed strong opposition to the Government of Manipur's Education Minister’s announcement regarding the initiatives in renaming of the pure Meitei term "Meetei Mayek" (lit. "Meitei script" [lower-alpha 1] ) into the mixed term, "Manipuri Mayek" (lit. "Manipuri script") [lower-alpha 2] . MEELAL warned the minister that the general public, along with the MEELAL, is ready for agitation if he (the minister) tries to rename Meetei Mayek into "Manipuri Mayek". [15] [16] [17]

Oppositions to 2022 governmental sanskritisation attempts

During June 2022, Government of Manipur once again planned to officially rename the Meitei script from "Meetei Mayek" into "Manipuri Mayek". MEELAL resisted against the Government of Manipur's decision to change the nomenclature from Meetei Mayek (as already published in the "Manipur Gazettee") to "Manipur Mayek". At the same time, MEELAL urged the people of Manipur for public participation in it. [18]

See also

Notes

  1. The term "Meetei" is a traditional term in Meitei language. So, it is linguistically pure.
  2. The term "Manipuri" is a Sanskrit loanword used in the Meitei language.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei language</span> Tibeto-Burman language of India

Meitei, officially known as Manipuri, is a Tibeto-Burman language of northeast India. It is the official language and the lingua franca of Manipur, as well as one of the 22 official languages of the Indian Republic, included in the 8th Schedule to the Indian Constitution. It is one of the advanced literary languages, recognised by Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters. It serves as one of the recognised educational and literary languages in Assam and Tripura. Native to the Meitei people, it has around 3 million total speakers, and is used as L1 by around 1.8 million people, predominantly in the state of Manipur, and as L2 by different ethnic groups, in different parts of India, Myanmar and Bangladesh. It was used as a court language in the historic Manipur Kingdom, in accordance to the Manipur State Constitution Act 1947.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kangla fort</span> Fortified Palace in Manipur, India

The Kangla, officially known as the Kangla Fort, is an old fortified palace at Imphal in the Manipur state of India. It was formerly situated on both sides of the bank of the Imphal River, now remaining only on the western side in ruined conditions. Kangla means "the prominent part of the dry land" in old Meetei. It was the traditional seat of the past Meetei rulers of Manipur.

<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">Imphal Airport</span> Airport in Manipur, India

Imphal Airport, officially renamed as Bir Tikendrajit International Airport, and formerly known as Tulihal International Airport, is an international airport serving Imphal, the capital of Manipur, India, located 7 km south from the city centre. It is the second largest and the third-busiest airport in North-East India after Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati and Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport in Agartala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kulachandra Singh</span> Ningthou & Maharaja

Kulachandra Singh was a Meitei monarch and the Maharaja of Manipur kingdom. He was a son of Maharaja Chandrakriti.

Waikhom Gojen Meitei is an Indian poet and educationist from Manipur. The Government of India honored him in 2014 by bestowing upon him the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, for his services to the fields of education and literature.

Langpoklakpam Jayantakumar Singh is an Indian politician. He was elected to the Manipur Legislative Assembly from Keishamthong in the 2017 Manipur Legislative Assembly election as a member of the National People's Party. He was Minister of Health, Family Welfare, Law and Legislative, Art and Culture in N. Biren Singh cabinet. He was the chairman of the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board, the temple development board of Lainingthou Sanamahi of the Sanamahi religion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Koubru</span> Sacred Mountain in Manipur, India

Mount Koubru (Meeteilol:ꯀꯧꯕ꯭ꯔꯨ) also known as Mount Koupalu is one of the highest mountains in Manipur, India and the abode of the god Lainingthou Koubru and the goddess Kounu in Manipuri mythology. Sapormeina town lies below the peak. It is located in the Kangpokpi district of Manipur and is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Manipur.

<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 an International Day 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">Meitei input methods</span>

Meitei input methods are the methods that allow users of computers to input texts in the Meitei script, systematically for Meitei language.

<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 as well as other indigenous vernaculars of Manipur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei classical language movement</span> Social movement to make Meitei an officially recognised Classical language of India

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">2022 in Manipur</span>

Events in the year 2022 in Manipur

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moirang Shayon</span> Old Meitei epic tales of seven cycles of incarnations of two divine lovers

In Meitei mythology and folklore, the epic cycles of incarnations in Moirang is a cyclic epic of seven incarnations of two divine lovers in the kingdom of Moirang in the realm of Ancient Kangleipak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board</span> Meitei temple administrative board in Imphal

The Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board (LSTB) is a temple development board of the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple, Haying Khongban Uphong Yumpham, Imphal West district of Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur'). It is dedicated not only to God Lainingthou Sanamahi and Goddess Leimarel Sidabi of Sanamahism, but also to the other ancient Meitei gods and goddesses of the traditional Meitei religion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Sanamahism Students' Association</span> International organization of students

The International Sanamahism Students' Association (ISSA) (Meitei: Malem Sanamahi Laining Maheiroi Lup), also called the International Sanamahism Students' Association, Kangleipak (Meitei: Malem Sanamahi Laining Maheiroi Lup, Kangleipak), is an international non-governmental organization of students of Sanamahism (traditional Meitei religion). It gives its services to the conservation and the upraising of the practices of Sanamahism in the society. It also draws the attention to the government of Manipur state to take up essential steps to protect Sanamahism from getting extinct.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei philosophy</span> Philosophical traditions of Meitei civilisation

The Meitei philosophy refers to the philosophical traditions of the Meitei culture of Ancient Kangleipak. In 15th century BC, the Wakoklon Heelel Thilel Salai Amailon Pukok Puya, one of the foremost and the oldest Meitei scriptures based on the antique philosophical traditions, was written in Ancient Manipur. It is the basis of the ideology of Sanamahism, the precursor to Meitei religion. In early notions, the ideology of the creation myth has strong connection with the shapes and figures of the Meitei numerals and Meitei script letters. The philosophical norms are inscribed in the massive materials of many ancient Meitei chronicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei poetry day</span> Annual event in India for Meitei literature

Meitei poetry day, formally termed as Manipuri poetry day, is an annual literary event organised to promote the poetries in Meitei language. It is organised in Manipur as well as in other Meitei speakers populated areas, aiming to popularise and expose Meitei literature to the world. The poetry day honours the contributions of the poets of Meitei literature as well as the diverse and distinctive uncommon literary traditions of the Meitei language.

References

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