Imphal, August 14 2010: A review meeting convened by monshang Tribe Union of Chandel District, Manipur on August 13 at Liwa Sarei village in the district headquarters deliberated indepth on the exclusion of the indigenous tribe's language in a survey report of the UNESCO.

The review meeting themed 'customary and usages of Monshang' took serious note of the UNESCO report entitled 'list of endangered languages as in online version of the World Atlas of Endangered Languages (2009) visavis Census'.

Besides, exclusion of the Monshang tribe, the UNESCO report had also classified languages of Aimol, Andro/Phayeng, Chairel/Chakpa, Gangte, Hmar, Kabui, Kom, Khoirao, Mao, Meitei, Maram, Tarao, Tangkhul, Moyon/Mayol/Mayon, Paite, Purum, etc under 'extinct, vulnerable, definitely endangered and critically endangered.

categories.

The review meeting was also attended by Chief Resource Person of Mysorebased Central Institute of Indian Languages Dr Th Chandramani Singh along with his Technical Assistant FM Basha.

Both are staying put at Chandel district since August first week to establish veracity on the UNESCO report.

Informing that the review meeting also focused on scientific codification, Dr Chandramani quoted Monshang Tribe Union chairman as saying that Monshang population of about 2500 is scattered in liwa Chaning, Liwa Khullen, Liwa Sarei, Heibunglok, Monshang Pantha and Japhou villages of Chandel district.

The Monshang tribe that had been in existence since the reign of Khagemba Ningthou (ruler) besides practising ageold tradition and culture are protecting their identity, he said and reminded that among the Monshangs, (late) NG Mono was elected to the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

Dr Chandramani also said that the Union chairman voiced strong resentment and shock upon hearing that the UN body has excluded the Monshang mother tongue from its compilation of endangered languages.

on the otherhand, Tarao Tribe union, Tarao Students' Union and Tarao Totnu Zurei have launched mass signature campaign as a part of documentation process of the Tarao language, one of many languages enlisted in the UNESCO as either extinct or endangered.

The UNESCO report besides classifying the tarao mother tongue as 'extinct' also stated that the tribe is confined in Churachandpur district.

The campaign reportedly kickstarted at Leishokching village in Chandel district at the initiative of the representatives of the Mysorebased Institution under village Code no.0064 .

It is also informed that as an observer of the ongoing documentation process Professor (Head) g devi Prasada Shastri of Centre for Tribal and Indigenous Languages will arrive at imphal on August 20 .

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