International Mother Language Day Observed

Imphal, Feb. 21: The Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) observed the International Mother Language Day today at the DM College of Science Central Hall by organising a State Level Open Symposium on the topi, “Role of Students for Their Motherland in the 21st Century”.                       
Altogether twenty students participated in the said symposium and widely spoke about the venerability of Meeteilon (Manipuri) and its position in the international arena vis-a-vis the Indian context.                       
Thoiba Ningthouja of DM College of Arts stressed the importance of a spoken language as the backbone of a nation and its civilization highlighting the significance of learning different languages in knowing the enemies in time of war. He argued the performance of ritual sites in foreign languages in different Manipuri homes while different sections of the Manipuri society have been speaking about our mother tongue/language.                       
Anamika Heirangkhongjam of the same college drew the attention of the audiences when she talked about population ratios of the Meeteis, ST/ST, Meetei Pangal and Non-Manipuris based on 2001 census  showing fear about the very near possible extinction of the indigenous population of Manipur if ILP is not implemented in time.                       
Angamba, President, DESAM addressed about the need for preserving the different dialects spoken among different pockets of tribal population in Manipur making strong promises for the role of his organisation to save Meeteilon and all the dialects spoken in Manipur.
Dr. Thokchom Chandramani, former Chief Resource Person, CTEL, Ministry of HRS, Department of Higher Education, Government of India categorised Meeteilon as a Vurnerable Language among the 2473 languages spoken worldwide and among the listed 198 Endangered Languages in India. Elaborating on the classification of a spoken languages as vulnerable, definitely endangered, severely endangered, critically endangered and extinct, he opined the possible extinction of Meeteilon and the different dailects in the present trends if some concrete measures are not taken up in time to save the indigenous populations of Manipur