Northeast Desk, 6th October: The Meetei Erol Eyek Loinasillol Apunba Lup (MEELAL), a prominent organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the Manipuri language, has accused the Manipur state government of negligence, claiming it failed to take necessary steps to secure classical language status for Manipuri.
In a press conference, MEELAL President Khaidem Ingocha Meetei stated that the state government’s failure to submit essential documentation and recommendations to the central government led to Manipuri’s exclusion from the latest expansion of India’s classical languages list. This comes after Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali, and Prakrit were newly designated as classical languages, bringing the total to eleven.
Meetei argued that Manipuri, with its rich linguistic heritage, could have been included if the state government had shown adequate interest and initiative. “The lack of documentation is the primary reason Manipuri was left out,” he said, revealing that MEELAL’s investigation pointed to the absence of required recommendations as a critical factor.
The organization acknowledged the advocacy efforts of Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba, who has been vocal about Manipuri’s inclusion on the national stage. However, MEELAL emphasized that state-level action is equally vital for such achievements.
Khaidem Ingocha Meetei urged the Manipur government to avoid further delays and immediately submit the necessary documents for consideration in future reviews. He called for a more proactive approach, ensuring that Manipuri receives the recognition it deserves as one of India’s classical languages.
The call comes at a time when linguistic pride and preservation are key concerns for communities across the country, particularly for languages with ancient roots like Manipuri.