IMPHAL, February 21: Research Forum Manipur, (REFORM) organised the International Mother Languages Day today at KUKI INN.
In the function, Langthabal A/C MLA Karam Shyam, REFORM president Naorem Indramani and Joint director, Directorate of Languages Planning and Implementation, Laishram Mahabir attended as the chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.
The Editor Guilds of Manipur president A Mobi and Professor Soibam Imoba of the Department of Linguistics, MU also attended as special invitees.
In his address, Karam Shyam said the development of our language will decide the development of our society.
He further stated that we always think that the English language dominate all over the world which is not correct because in countries like Russia, they promote the Russian language by compelling tourists to communicate in it by only speaking in Russian.
English speaking people are always committing crimes because they don`™t digest what they have learned in their lives, he added.
He said that the only way to develop ourselves is to develop the mother language and the time has come to promote our language for the future generations.
Speaking as a guest of honour, Laishram Mahabir said the International Mother Day is being observed to give importance to regional language and to develop it in the future. Manipur has 39 tribes of which only 13 tribal languages were approved by the government with the remaining 26 tribal languages considered as minor languages, he added.
He further said Manipur languages can be studied till the graduation level and the department of Languages Planning and Implementation is planning to translate the schools books in Manipuri languages from the month of March.
Meanwhile, the International Mother Language Day was observed at the Manipur Dramatic Union Hall in Yaiskul Police Lane, Imphal, where the Sui generis Mother Language Award was also presented.
The function was jointly organised by Sahitya Thoupang Lup and the Mother language lovers of the World, Manipur chapter. Okram Churamani Singh from Cachar, Assam was awarded with the Sui Generis Mother Language Award which included a cash award of Rs 5000, a citation and a shawl.
The function was attended by language activist Leihaithbam Saratchandra and the Mother Language Lovers of the World, Manipur Chapter president Chungkham Jasobanta Singh as guest of honour and president respectively.