IMPHAL, Jun 13: Education, Labour & Employment Minister Th Radheshyam launched BA Manipuri textbooks (Meitei Mayek) on an e-book format at the inaugural function of the 10-day Meetei Mayek orientation programme for college teachers who teach Manipuri organised by the Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation ,Government of Manipur at DM College of Arts today.
Speaking at the event, he remarked on the progress made by Meitei Mayek in a short period of time, rising from being taught to children in lower classes to now being modelled for BA level.
He pointed out that development of a society or a community is dictated by the sophistication of their language and added that one must be accommodative in order to develop and improve one’s language.
“Learning and exposing oneself to different languages builds up knowledge’, he stated. “If one masters English language, one does not have any problem in communicating with people from every part of the world”, he added.
Pointing out that Meitei Mayek is an advanced language, Radheshyam stressed the importance of translating every book, novels and literature written in Bengali script to Meitei Mayek for the benefit of the future generations.
He further stated that participation and commitment of the teachers are needed to make the dream a reality.
Speaking at the event, Director, Language Planning and Implementation, Dr L Mahabir Singh said that it is necessary for all the teachers in the State to become well acquainted with Meitei Mayek as all BA, BSc and BCom courses from this session will contain Meitei Mayek.
He further stated that out of a total of 200 BA books planned for launch, only 28 books have been successfully launched at present and reminded that the website of the office, dlpi.manipur.gov.in is available 24×7 so that everyone can access the books.
Parliamentary Secretary (Education) Kongkham Robindro and DM College of Arts Principal Kh Sarangajit were also present at the event as presidium members where more than 200 teachers of 45 colleges participated.
Sharing his opinion to the gathering, K Robindro expressed, “Although I have stayed far away from Meetei Mayek language and even find Bengali script difficult to comprehend due to my early years at a hostel where no Manipuri subject was taught, I feel that we should include this language in every school to such an extent that experts from other countries may even become interested in conducting research in our language.”
Source:The Sangai Express
