Language Cell Dept. of Education (Schools),Govt. of Manipur
1. Resolution of Manipur Legislative Assembly: Considering the need of a State Department of Languages, Manipur Legislative Assembly had adopted a decision for immediate establishment of a State Directorate of Manipuri Language and Major Tribal Dialects Development vide its Resolution No. 4 dated 25-09-1996.
2. In pursuance of the Resolution of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, Government of Manipur has established and strengthened a Language Cell in the Department of Education(S) for taking care of development and promotion of Manipuri language (as a State Official Language and also to commensurate with the newly acquired status of being a Schedule Language); and for all round development of all the Tribal Languages spoken in the State, with the appointment of some 15 employees (Officers, Research personnel and Staff) on Contract basis from 31-01-1998 pending regularization of their services and setting up a full-fledged Language Directorate. Their term of engagement has been extended from time to time by the Govt. with the concurrence of State Finance Dept.
The following are the achievement and undertaken works of the Language Cell.
A. FOR MANIPURI LANGUAGE
Standardization of Manipuri Language in respect of its Spelling, Terminology, and more importantly, Semantics, Lexicology and Lexicography for its lexicon in order to implement the Manipur Official Language Act-1979 and other Government Orders issued therein with following two major projects:
a) Advanced Learners’ Dictionary of Manipuri Language: Language Cell compiles an exhaustive and authentic Advanced Learners’ Dictionary of Contemporary Manipuri with the help of Modern Linguistics and English Language. It is also for the Manipuri users and learners who want to develop further understanding and knowledge of how Manipuri Affixes, Words, Compounds, Phrasal verbs, Idiomatic expressions, and Proverbs are used, what they mean, how they are pronounced, and how they are spelt. The work is almost completed and its editing work is being undertaken. The volume comes in about 500 pages in A4 size.
b) Manipuri Terminology Building Project: Any change in the medium of Official Language and Education essentially necessitates production of Reference books for all office purposes and University-level text-books in adequate number. These books may not only be of a high level with regard to the subject concerned, but these must contain standard and uniformed terminology.
c) Language Cell started preparing Manipuri Terminologies for 17 subjects that are studied at Graduate level with the help of competent subject experts under the sponsorship of the Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT), Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, New Delhi.
So far 12 subjects of Humanities and Social Sciences have been fairly completed. Apart from these, implementation of state policies adopted with regard to re-introduction and development of Meetei Mayek/Roman Script for Manipuri Language also carried out by the Language Cell. Manipuri Text-books from Class I up to Class X are also produced in Meetei Mayek as well as in Roman Script. The work includes transliteration in both writing systems and all DTP processes.
10-day Meetei Mayek/Roman Script Training Programs for Primary School Teachers have been conducted by the Language Cell in two Phases. Each phase lasts 10(ten) days. The Programs have benefited about 2000 Primary School Teachers consequent upon the adoption of Meetei Mayek/Roman Script for Manipuri Text-books for Classes I-X under the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur.
B. FOR TRIBAL LANGUAGES
The following steps are taken up by the Language Cell to provide Minimum Levels of Learning to the Children of Linguistic Minority groups within the framework of Curriculum Content published by NCERT.
a) Linguistic Data: To identify the sound and phoneme system of each Minority Language; and collection of 1000 words of mono-/bi-/tri-syllable suitable for 1st grade learners as well as simple sentences, numerals etc.
b) Dictionaries: To publish Dictionaries of 2500 words for each language. c) Curriculum development, curriculum materials, Teacher Training, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation work are to be followed accordingly.
So far Language Cell has completed the following work.
1. Phonology of Aimol Language.
2. Phonology of Anal Language.
3. Phonology of Liangmei Language.
4. Phonology of Zou Language.
5. Multilingual Dictionaries of 2782 words for six Minority Tribal Languages ---- Aimol, Anal, Koireng, Liangmei, Paomei, and Zou with Manipuri and English Language.
The following were the works entrusted to the Language Cell
A. FOR MANIPURI LANGUAGE
a) Implementation of Manipur Official Language Act-1979.
1. Manipuri Terminology Building.
2. Translation of important Rules, Acts etc.
3. Training
b) Development of Manipuri Language.
1. Compilation of ‘An Advanced Learners’ Dictionary of Manipuri Language’ for all round standardization of the Language
2. Compilation of different types of Manipuri Dictionaries.
3. Compilation of Manipuri Encyclopedia.
4. Preparation of Manipuri Language Teaching and Learning materials for different purposes.
5. All the works relating to Meetei Mayek.
B. FOR MAJOR TRIBAL DIALECTS
1. Implementation of Three Language Formula.
2. Preparation of comprehensive grammars and teaching materials.
3. Compilation of vocabularies and basic sentences of Major Tribal Dialects along Manipuri, Hindi and English Languages.
C. FOR SAFEGUARD OF MINORITY TRIBAL DIALECTS
1. Formulation and implementation of policies for the safeguard of endangered Minority Tribal Dialects.
2. To impart education in Minority Languages at the Primary stage of School Education under the Article 350 (A) of the Constitution of India.
Department of Language Planning and Implementation Govt. of Manipur
On 19th February, 2013 the State Cabinet has accorded approval to the following:
1. Setting up of a separate Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation under the Govt. of Manipur by upgrading the Language Cell of the Department of Education (Schools), Govt. of Manipur.
2. Creation of 18 posts for the Department including Director, Joint Director and other Officers and Staff.
3. Absorption of the 15 Contract Employees of the Department of Education (Schools), Govt. of Manipur against the analogous posts created in the Department of Language Planning and Implementation, Govt. of Manipur.
Activities
1. Phase-I 10-day Manipuri Terminology Building Workshop from 5th to 15th May, 2014 for Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Economics, and Geography at SCERT Hall, Lamphelpat
2. Award presentation Ceremony of 6th Manipur State Award for Literature-2013 on 17th June, 2014 with Shri Vinod Kumar Dugal, His Excellency the Governor of Manipur, Shri M. Okendro, Hon’ble Minister, Education, CAF and PD, and Prof. E. Dinamani Singh, President, Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Imphal as the Chief Guest, President and Guest of Honour at Jawaharlal Nehru Manipuri Dance Academy, Imphal.
3. First Meeting of the State Level Manipuri Lexicon Committee constituted by the Govt. vide its order No.19/6/2013-SE(S) dated 13-06-2014 to address needs relating to Manipuri Loan Words, Manipuri Terminology and systematic creation of new Manipuri words held on Saturday, July 26, 2014 at 3.00 P.M. in the Conference Hall, Old Secretariat, South Block, Imphal with Shri Kh. Raghumani Singh, IAS, Director/LPI in the Chair.
4. Second Meeting of the State Level Manipuri Lexicon Committee constituted by the Govt. vide its order No.19/6/2013-SE(S) dated 13-06-2014 to address needs relating to Manipuri Loan Words, Manipuri Terminology and systematic creation of new Manipuri words held on Saturday August 09, 2014 at 3.00 P.M. in the Conference Hall, Board of Secondary Education, Manipur, Imphal with Shri Kh. Raghumani Singh, IAS, Director/LPI in the Chair.
5. Observation 1st Anniversary of the Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation, Govt. of Manipur and 22nd Anniversary of inclusion of Manipuri in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India on 20th August, 2014 with Padma Sri R. K. Jhalajit Singh, Dr. L. Mahabir Singh, Director/LPI, Prof. E. Dinamani Singh, President, Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Imphal, Shri Utam C Laishram, Director, Science and Technology, and Shri A. Ibomcha Sharma, News Editor, AIR, Imphal as the Chief Guest, President and Guests of Honour in the Conference Room, DLPI, Old Lambulane, Imphal.
6. Phase-II 10-day Manipuri Terminology Building Workshop from 8th to 19th September, 2014 for Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Geology, Geography, Literature, and Mathematics in the Conference Room, DLPI, Old Lambulane, Imphal.
7. Phase-III 10-day Manipuri Terminology Building Workshop from 22nd September to 4th October, 2014 for Anthropology, Philosophy, Economics, History, Political science, Sociology, Home Science, and Commerce in the Conference Room, DLPI, Old Lambulane, Imphal.
8. Third Meeting of the State Level Manipuri Lexicon Committee constituted by the Govt. vide its order No.19/6/2013-SE(S) dated 13-06-2014 to address needs relating to Manipuri Loan Words, Manipuri Terminology and systematic creation of new Manipuri words held on Saturday, October 11, 2014 at 9.00 A.M. in the Conference Room, Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation, Old Lambulane, Imphal with Dr. L. Mahabir Singh, Director/LPI in the Chair.
Organisation Chart
Awards
Memento
Manipur State Award for Literature Memento
The Manipur State Award for Literature is sponsored by the Government of Manipur from 2008 to honour the writers in recognition of their contributions to Manipuri literature. The Award shall be given every year to the author of the most outstanding book, first published during the last five years, immediately preceding the year of the award. At present, the award includes a plaque, a citation, cash component of Rs. 3 lakh and a shawl.
Criteria of eligibility for the award
A) In order to be eligible for the award, the book must be an outstanding creative work of literature, but must not be-
1. A work of translation; or
2. An anthology of writings of different writers; or
3. An abridgement, or a compilation, or an annotation or
4. A treatise, or a research work prepared for a University degree, or an examination; or
5. The work of an author who is a member of the Advisory Board constituted under rule 3.1. or the Jury.
6. The work of an author whose any other book has already been given this award.
B) A book shall be disqualified for the award if it is established that canvassing has been done by the author.
C) A book shall be disqualified for the award if it goes against the spirit of national integration and communal harmony.
D) A posthumous award may be considered if the author died within the preceding one year of the award.
Advisory Board, Jury, Process for the Award
A) There shall be an Advisory Board consisting of five members including a Member Secretary constituted by the Department of Language Planning and Implementation, Government of Manipur. The term of the Advisory Board shall be for a period of 3 (three) years. The Member Secretary should be an officer of the Department of Language Planning and Implementation who is not below the rank of a Joint Director. The other members of the Board should be selected from men of letters and should include at least one woman. They, excluding the Member Secretary, shall not be members of the Board in the subsequent term. However, they may again be members of the Board in the next to the subsequent term.
B) The Advisory Board shall prepare a panel of 25 (twenty five) experts every year.
C) The Member Secretary shall select 15 (fifteen) experts out of the panel of 25 experts and invite recommendations of five books at the maximum from each of them.
D) The Advisory Board shall also prepare a panel of 6 (six) Jury every year. The panel of jury and experts shall be mutually exclusive.
E) The Member Secretary shall compile a list of the books recommended by the experts in order of number of recommendations received by each book.
F) The copies of the top three books or such number of books if there is a tie requiring such action, shall be sent to the members of the Jury consisting of three members selected by the Member Secretary out of panel of six prepared by the Advisory Board every year.
G) The members of the Jury shall consider the merits of the books and prepare a critical assessment and also list the book in order of merit.
H) The members of the Jury in a meeting convened by the Member Secretary shall either by consensus or by majority recommend a book for the award. If they are of the opinion that no book deserves the award in a particular year, a recommendation to that effect may also be made. In the event of a member not being able to attend the meeting he/she may convey his/her opinion in writing. The Member Secretary shall, however, have no say in the decision of the Jury.
Selection of Awards
A) The recommendation of the Jury shall be placed before the Advisory Board for the formal approval. The Advisory Board, for reasons to be recorded in writing, may refer back the recommendation to the jury for its reconsideration, the recommendation of the jury, made there after shall be final and binding.
B) The Advisory Board shall in turn forward the case of the selected Awardees to the Department of Language Planning and Implementation, Government of Manipur for formal announcement. This will be done with the least possible delay.
Miscellaneous
1) If, at any stage of the process, the recommendations are not received within a specified time, it shall be presumed that the person concerned has no recommendation to make and thus the non-receipt of any recommendation shall not hinder the process for the award.
2) The award shall normally be announced in the month of November.
3) The award ceremony shall be organized by the Department of Language Planning and Implementation soon after the declaration of the award.
4) The members of the Advisory Board and the Jury shall be given honorarium and sitting allowance.
5) The whole process from inviting recommendations to the declaration of the award shall be kept confidential.
6) The Government may amend/modify the Rules and Regulations from time to time in consultation with the Advisory Board.
7) In case of any dispute, the decision of the Government shall be final and binding.
List of recipients of Manipur State Award for Literature
