Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 04 2010:
Talkers at the seminar on Manipuri language (Meeteilon) held today at MDU hall, Yaiskul has mooted of concerted efforts of the people for inclusion of Meeteilon among the listed classical language of the country.
The seminar was organised jointly by the Meetei Eyek Erol Loinashillon Apunba Lup (MEELAL).
Speaking as chief guest of the inaugural function of the seminar former state minister, RV Mingthing while observing that language is the most important component of a community expressed concern over today's youngsters apparent neglect in uplifting the Meeteilon.
"It is not a good sign.
Everybody joins hands in the effort to uplift the language," he called for.
Meishnam Shivdutta Luwang, Editor of Hueiyen Lanpao Meetei Mayek Edition expressed that Meeteilon is worthy of inclusion among the classical languages of the country and called upon the gathering for a concerted effort for inclusion of the language.
Elaborately speaking on the classical languages category of India, he said the language included in the category should be those which have high antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years; A body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers; The literary tradition be original and not borrowed from another speech community, among others.
The Manipuri language is old as 3000 years and it possessed all the qualities to be a classical language.
Knowing this, there is the need for efforting together to include among the languages which Government of India declared that classical languages of the country in 2004 .
Languages far declared to be "classical" are Tamil (in 2004), Sanskrit (in 2005), Kannada (in 2008), and Telugu (in 2008) .