“Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Cultural Reawakening: A Study on the Revitalisation of Meetei Mayek Script and Meetei Language Movement”
| Author |
| Bunty Laishram |
| Date of Publication: December, 2024 |
| Volume: XXIII, No.- XXVI |
| Abstract |
| Manipuri language is predominantly spoken by the majority of the population of the state of Manipur, also known as the Meiteis. However, the Manipuri language has two scripts- Bengali script and Meetei (Meitei) Mayek script. Meetei Mayek is the original or indigenous script of the Manipuri language, used before the 18th century as evident in the ancient historical manuscripts and puyas (Meitei religious scriptures). For about close to two centuries, the Bengali script has been the primary script used to write Manipuri but the Meetei Mayek script has recently been revived and reintroduced by local Meitei-culture-focused groups. The 20th century revival of Meetei Mayek is believed to reflect the idea of a distinct Meitei identity, unique culture and tradition. The movement has suffered numerous forms of challenges and local agitations but it has also achieved significant milestones, such as the inclusion of Meetei Mayek to the local syllabus and textbooks in 2005 and the amendment in 2021 by the Official Language Act, Manipur to include Meetei Mayek as the primary script of the state. However, in reality, books and newspapers published in the script remain largely incomprehensible to most readers, as most Manipuris, particularly those belonging to the older generation cannot read and write Meetei Mayek. In this article, the dynamic of Meetei Mayek revitalisation and standardisation in the state will be examined. The study of the work will depend entirely on the historical framework of the origin and decline of the script to reflect and understand the process of revival and linguistic inclusivity of the script, the language policy and the linguistic movement at play. The goal is also to highlight how the script has been politically, culturally and technologically neglected in a number of ways. Following the synthesis resulted in identifying that the larger section of Manipuris who cannot read Meetei Mayek also acknowledges that the promotion of the script is considered more representative of the distinctive Meitei identity and culture, with a unique language bearing its own unique scripts. |
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