Manipuri Sahitya Parishad celebrates 85 years: Declining Manipuri culture, language among Meiteis in other States, countries stressed

By our Staff reporter
IMPHAL, Jun 23: Manipuri Sahitya Parishad Sunday celebrated 85 years of its existence and held its 84th annual meeting at Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal.
Speaking at the event, Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker Y Khemchand expressed concern over the decreasing use of Meitei/Manipuri language and culture among the Meiteis in other States and countries such as Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Most of the Meiteis in Myanmar and Bangladesh are now not fluent in speaking the mother tongue, Khemchand said while stressing the need to promote the language as well as the culture among the people.
He lauded the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad for promoting the Manipuri language and the culture in National and International stages.
President of Bangladesh Manipuri Sahitya Sangsad AK Seram also pointed out the various barriers which have impacted the use of Manipuri language among the people in Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Apart of the land barrier, the culture to which the Meiteis in Bangladesh are born to have impacted the indigenous culture and language as well, Seram said. The Meiteis in Bangladesh have to speak in Bangla for most of the time to communicate, he said explaining the reason for limited use of Manipuri language in their day to day life.
Non-inclusion of the Manipuri language in syllabi of the students in Bangladesh and limited access to Manipuri text books are also some main reason for the decline of the language, he said and underlined the importance of collective effort for preservation and promotion of the language and the culture in Bangladesh and other Meitei inhabited places including Myanmar.
As a part of the celebration, a two day seminar on "Manipurgi Wangmagi Houkhiba Chahi 20 gi Manipuri Sahitya" was also kicked off. The fist session of the seminar was moderated by Prof Nongmaithem Tombi Singh. Bangladesh Manipuri Sahitya Sangsad president AK Seram spoke about Manipuri Sahitya of the past 20 years in Bangladesh.
Kabrabam Dhiren also talked about the Manipuri Sahitya of the past 20 years in Tripura.
In the second session moderated by Prof Jodhachandra Sanasam, Dr ND Hodamba and Dr Kunjalal Yendrembam talked about Manipuri Sahitya in Assam.
President Manipuri Sahitya Parishad Prof Kangjam Ibohal Singh attended the event. Many achievers and award winners in the field of Art & Culture were felicitated at the event.