Tribal language development programme begins

Source: Thesangaiexpress.

Imphal, November 11 2008: A five-day long training programme on Tribal languages development has begun from today at the auditorium of Tribal Research Institute, Chingmeirong.

MLA Dr Khashim Ruivah and MLA Awangbou Newmai inaugurated the training programme as chief guest and president respectively.

Delivering the key note address of the function, Joint Director of Tribal Research Institute K Daimai stated that language is God given means of human communication.

Consisting of the use of spoken and written words in a structured manner, every language irrespective of its speaker and their number is equally important as it is through language that human feelings could be conveyed.

He further said that every language is a store house of indigenous culture and knowledge and it reflects the world view of that particular group of people who speak that language.

Quoting Linguistic experts who are of the opinion that one language dies or becomes obsolete in the world after every 14 days, Daimai observed that when a language dies it is not just loss of words and grammar but the vast repository of human knowledge, oral literature and history of the people itself.

He pointed out that there are about 35 languages in Manipur which need to be protected and encouraged by the Government.

So policy on development of tribal languages being spoken in Manipur is also essential required.

In his address as guest of honour of the inaugural function, MLA Dr Khashim noted that language is the only medium that can bring different people into one fold.

Language studies should not be merely considered an academic matter or pursuance of a degree matter but the studies of understanding each other's culture, history and identities.

In his presidential address, MLA Awangbou observed that tribals of Manipur have their own rich languages that need to be nutured seriously and systematically through encouragement and widening of the scope of learning.

Founder member of Tribal Research Institute K Brongwo opined that a development of common language for the tribals along with adherence to English dictionary would solve the problem of communication.

In the technical session of the first day of the training programme today, Prof Dr Ch Yashwanta Singh spoke on the topic of 'Standardisation of spelling' and Dr N Promodini Devi on 'Text book writing system'.

The training programme is being organised by Tribal Research Institute, Government of Manipur and would go on till November 15 .

NDFB cadres: With the investigating agencies indicating the hands of NDFB behind the recent serial blasts, the Assam Govt has decided to strictly restrict the movement of the NDFB cadres to its designated camps.