IT News
Imphal, Oct 8:
Wakhallon Mannaba Apunba (WAMA) President, Moirangthem Naokhomba Meitei, has voiced his frustration over the non-inclusion of the Meitei language in the newly drawn list of classical languages for India. The omission, he claims, is due to a failure on the part of the state government and the relevant language department.
According to Moirangthem Naokhomba, the issue was first raised in 2020 when WAMA, along with MP Leishemba Sanajaoba, discussed the matter, presenting it in Parliament. Sanajaoba argued that the Manipuri language fulfilled all the necessary criteria to be recognized as a classical language, and the issue received serious attention at the Centre.
Following this, the state’s language department formed a committee to pursue the matter. However, the issue failed to progress as expected. It was later revealed that the department had not taken any meaningful steps to move the proposal forward. Given the protests from WAMA and deadlines being set, negotiations happened with the department. However, it did not result in the required action even though assurance was given that proper documentations will be sent to relevant authorities on time.
It has been later informed that Art and Culture department is the one who did not pass the documents to the higher authority, according to WAMA.
Moirangthem Naokhomba criticized the inaction of the Education, Language, and Art & Culture Departments, which he blames for the failure to secure classical language status for Manipuri. Since the Chief Minister is also the Minister of Art and Culture, Naokhomba urged him to ensure the departments submit the necessary documents on time, as there is still an opportunity for the language to be considered in future lists.