IT News
Imphal, April 5:
The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Manipur Chapter, in collaboration with the Rongmei Literature Society, organized a special observance of International Mother Language Day 2025 under the theme “Intangible Cultural Heritage: Folklore and Oral Tradition of the Indigenous Rongmei Community of Manipur.” The event was held at JN Manipur Dance Academy.
Notable personalities who participated in the event included Sahitya Akademi Awardee Saratchand Thiyam, Manipur State Kala Academy Awardee and President of the Rongmei Literature Society Ragongning Gangmei, and Prof. Naorem Joykumar from the History Department of Manipur University.
Although Chief Minister N. Biren Singh could not attend in person, his message was shared via an audio recording, where he expressed his support for preserving indigenous languages and the significance of the event. In his message, he reflected on the need to document and honor the oral traditions and native expressions of various communities that are deeply rooted in the land and history of Manipur.
Prof. Naorem Joykumar, delivering the keynote address, emphasized the need for a language policy to preserve the indigenous dialects and traditional expressions, especially those passed down orally across generations. He noted that although modernization is influencing language use, every effort must be made to protect and respect the unique linguistic heritage of each community.
He further explained that many of the local expressions and oral narratives, passed down from elders, embody the history, values, and identity of a people. Language, in this regard, becomes not just a tool for communication but a vessel of collective memory. He stressed that promoting and using one’s mother tongue is a crucial step toward safeguarding cultural identity.
Recalling the significance of February 21 as International Mother Language Day, Sahitya Akademi Awardee Saratchand Thiyam spoke about the tragic events of 1952 in the East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), where several students lost their lives protesting the imposition of Urdu over Bengali. Their sacrifice later led UNESCO, in its 30th General Conference held on November 17, 1999, to declare February 21 as International Mother Language Day.
Saratchand Thiyam added that such a globally recognized day serves as a reminder for all communities, including those in Manipur, to value and preserve their mother tongues. He urged for the formulation of a proper language policy in Manipur to protect the linguistic diversity of the state.
