IMPHAL, December 1: An illustrated book titled ‘Nanao’ was released today at JN Dance Academy.
The book contains ethnic rhymes of the Meitei community based on traditional folklore.
Along with the book, an audio compact disk containing the rhymes was also included in the release of the package.
The function was attended by joint director, Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation, Prof H Bihari as the chief guest.
The director of Social Welfare, I Ibobi was to attend as the chief guest but had differed at the last minute.
MEELAL president , Sadokpam Tomba Meitei was the functional president. The guest of honors included Prof. H Bihari, convenor of Manipur Sahitya Board and renowned lyricist and musicologist, B Jayantakumar Sharma.
As part of the release function, the children who participated in the recording also presented a show for the audience. The other individuals inclusive of illustrative artists and background vocals, editors of the book and other concerned individuals in production was also distributed certificates.
According to Nelson Elangbam, managing director of NE Bros Entertainment Private Ltd and publisher of the book, his venture is to promote our culture and tradition by imbibing the young generation with our folklore.
This book which is aimed at the pre-school level will foster our traditional children games which are presently disappearing due to globalization.
The chief guest in his speech mentioned that people are starting to ignore their own language as a first language and there is a breakdown of traditional vocabulary.
Our mindset is now more inclined towards a westernized mindset mainly among the teens, some of the younger generation have difficulties pronouncing words.
This is a precarious situation and the need of the hour is again to plant our language to the next generation and prevent further erosion of our cultural dialect. To go about on a practical basis, a proper program can be chalked out after dialectic exercises with knowledgeable persons from diversified fields, he added.