Meitei language movement

Further information: Meitei language day, Meitei language festival, and Meitei poetry day

See also: Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation

The Meitei language movement (Meitei: Meitei Longi Kongjang), also known as the Manipuri language movement (Meitei: Manipuri Longi Kongjang), is any linguistic movement undertaken by the literary, political and social associations as well as organisations, advocating for a change or development of Meitei language (officially known as Manipuri language) in various critical, discriminative and unfavorable circumstances and situations.

"Meitei Lon" (literally meaning "Meitei language"), written in Meitei script

In the history of Meitei language, there were 4 notable linguistic movements that took place.

Linguistic purism movement

Further information: Meitei linguistic purism movement

Scheduled language movement

Further information: Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India, Languages with official status in India, Languages of India, and Linguistic history of India

With the introduction of 14 Indian languages in an officially recognized category named "scheduled languages" by the Government of India in the year 1950, in which Meitei language was not included,^[1] there was a language movement advocated by the literary, political and social associations as well as organizations, from Northeast India (especially from Manipur, Assam and Tripura), spearheaded especially by the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad and the "All Manipur Students' Union" (AMSU), demanding the "scheduled language" status for Meitei language (officially called Manipuri language) for more than four long decades.^[2][3][4] In the year 1992, Meitei language (officially called Manipuri language) was given the "scheduled language" status with the "71st Constitutional Amendment Act" of the Indian Constitution.^[5][6] The day of the inclusion of Meitei language in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India and making it one of the official languages of the Indian Republic is annually commemorated as Meitei Language Day (also called Manipuri Language Day) on August 20.^[7][8]

Classical language movement

Further information: Meitei classical language movement

With the introduction of an officially recognised linguistic elite category called "Classical Languages of India" by the Government of India,^[9] the social movement of Meitei language to achieve the classical language status is advocated by various literary, political, social associations and organisations as well as notable individual personalities of Bangladesh, Myanmar, Northeast India (prominently Assam, Manipur and Tripura).^[10][11]

Associate official language movement

Further information: Meitei associate official language movement

Due to the exemption of all the candidates who do not appear the exams in either of the three mandatory languages, Assamese, Bodo or Bengali, without provisions of any alternative language, in job recruitments conducted by the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) of the Government of Assam (in accordance to the "Assam Public Services Competitive Examination (Amendment) Rules, 2019"),^[12][13][14] the social movement of Meitei language to be included as an associate official language of the Government of Assam was advocated by several literary, political, social associations and organisations as well as by various leaders of Northeast India (predominantly from Assam, Manipur and Tripura).^[15]

See also

• Language revitalization
• Meitei nationalism

Notes and references

1. "English Releases". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
2. Thomas, C. Joshua; Gopalakrishnan, Ramamoorthy; Singh, R. K. Ranjan (2001). Constraints in Development of Manipur. Regency Publications [for Policy Alternatives for the North-East and Conflict Elimination Awareness]. p. 54. ISBN 978-81-87498-30-8.
3. Thomas, C. Joshua; Gopalakrishnan, Ramamoorthy; Singh, R. K. Ranjan (2001). Constraints in Development of Manipur. Regency Publications [for Policy Alternatives for the North-East and Conflict Elimination Awareness]. p. 55. ISBN 978-81-87498-30-8.
4. "Manipuri language in 8th Schedule By Jeet Akoijam". e-pao.net. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
5. "Manipuri language in 8th Schedule By Jeet Akoijam". e-pao.net. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
6. "Languages Included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution | Department of Official Language | Ministry of Home Affairs | GoI". rajbhasha.gov.in. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
7. "30th Manipuri Language Day observed : 21st aug21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net.
8. "Manipuri Language Day observed in Manipur - Eastern Mirror". easternmirrornagaland.com. 20 August 2017.
9. "India sets up classical languages". 17 September 2004.
10. IANS (20 August 2016). "Classic language status for Manipuri demanded". Business Standard India.
11. "Classic language status for Manipuri demanded". MorungExpress.
12. Today, North East (9 October 2020). "Manipuri Bodies Burn Effigies of CM Sonowal, Himanta Biswa; Demands Manipuri as Associate Official Language". Northeast Today.
13. "Manipuri Bodies Demand Manipuri As Associate Official Language In Assam | East Turn News". East Turn. 9 October 2020.
14. "List Manipuri as associate official language in Assam: Ranjan in LS : 21st dec20 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net.
15. Laithangbam, Iboyaima (27 September 2020). "Assam to look into demand to include Manipuri in list of associate languages". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X.