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Script and
Language
As any student of Social Anthropology would say, language is one of the most important component in the culture of a people or a community and to many, language is not only the verbal and written means of communicating and recording facts and figures but encompasses a whole gamut of human emotions and is closely linked to the very existence of the people or community concerned.
It is in realizing this very fact that all the State Education Boards prescribe the two language norm up to the class X level. In some States there is even the three language norm at least up to the class VIII level. And in all these cases the lingua franca of the respective State is made compulsory for the domicile student. In recognizing the indisputable place of a language in the culture of a people, it becomes equally important to study the role of the script of the language and the degree of its impact on the culture of the people concerned. This question today gains prominence in the face of the agitation launched by the All Manipur Meitei Mayek Research and Training Board to pressurize the Government to introduce the Meitei Mayek (script) at the primary level of all the schools in Manipur.
The Manipuri language was included in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution in the early 90s following intense agitation launched by the All Manipur Students’ Union and backed by various social organizations. Ironically while the Center has deemed it fit to include the Manipuri language in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, the State Government has done precious little to implement the Manipuri script at the schools. The Manipuri language as we know it today still goes by the Bengali script. How important is the script to the identity of a people is the question that is now staring us in the face.
The English language, which can easily qualify as the lingua franca of the world, uses the Roman script and so does the French language with a little modification here and there to suit the pronunciation and syntax of the language. However using the same script has not dulled or robbed the richness of the language of either the French or the English.
The question, therefore, before us is whether using the Bengali script has robbed the richness or identity of the Manipuri language. We admit we are no language experts nor do we claim to have any authority over the Manipuri language or the Meitei script, but what we would like to say is that the State Government should pay due attention to developing the Meitei script. To many, the Meitei script is not just another means of communicating with each other or to record the history and literature of the Manipuri people but connotes a sentimental value as the script was in danger of disappearing for good when the Meitei religious book Puya was burnt.
It is thanks to the revivalist work and research of some scholars and organizations like the All Manipur Meitei Mayek Research and Training Board that fresh interest was generated in the study and research of the Meitei script. On April 22, 1980 the State Government had issued a gazette notification to introduce the script at the primary level. However for one reason or the other, the notification was never implemented and what we have today is a Manipuri people to whom their own script is as alien as Greek. While we understand the grievances of the Meitei mayek enthusiasts, we would certainly like to see them adopt some other means of agitation.
Remember, going to schools and confiscating the text books from the little tots will have no meaning. Rather it will have a negative impact on the sensitive minds of the young children. Our children certainty do not deserve to witness anything ugly on account of the apathy of the government. Moreover no one has the right to disturb the academic atmosphere of the schools. It is only when everyone keep these fundamental facts in mind will the term ‘agitation ‘”have any meaning.
(Courtesy: The Sangai Express)
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