Meitei language in Bangladesh

The Meitei language (Meitei: ꯃꯩꯇꯩ ꯂꯣꯟ/মৈতৈ লোন, romanized: Meitei Lon), officially and formally known as the Manipuri language (Meitei: ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯂꯣꯟ/মণিপুরী লোন, romanized: Manipuri Lon), is one of the minority languages in the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Native to the Manipuri people, it has 15,000 native speakers, mainly concentrated in the Sylhet Division of the nation. According to the Ethnologue, Meitei language is used as the first language (L1) by the Meitei Hindus as well as the Meitei Pangal (Meitei for 'Meitei Muslims') and as the second language (L2) by the Bishnupriyas in Bangladesh.[2][3]

"Manipuri language in Bangladesh" redirects here. For the official language of Manipur, see Manipuri language.
Meitei language in Bangladesh
(Meitei: ꯕꯥꯡꯂꯥꯗꯦꯁꯇ ꯃꯩꯇꯩꯂꯣꯟ/বাংলাদেশতা মৈতৈলোন)
Manipuri language in Bangladesh
(Meitei: ꯕꯥꯡꯂꯥꯗꯦꯁꯇ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯂꯣꯟ/বাংলাদেশতা মণিপুরী লোন)
Meiteilon/Manipuri lon
Meitei Lon (Meitei for 'Meitei language') written in Meitei script and Bengali script
Native to
RegionSylhet Division
EthnicityMeitei people
Native speakers
15,000[1]
Sino-Tibetan
Standard forms
Standard Meitei (Standard Manipuri)
Meitei script and Bengali script
Official status
Recognised minority
language in
Development body
  • Manipuri Language Research and Development Organisation, Bangladesh
  • Bangladesh Manipuri Sahitya Sangsad
  • Manipur Cultural Complex, Bangladesh
Language codes
ISO 639-2mni
ISO 639-3mni

Due to lessening and reducing population, the generation of Meitei people in Sylhet have problems in speaking fluent Manipuri language as they speak Bengali language more than their own mother tongue. The Meitei people speak Manipuri language with heavy Bangladeshi accent.[4]

The "Manipuri Cultural Complex" works for the development of Meitei language (AKA Manipuri language) in Bangladesh.

Associations and organizations including but not limited to the "Manipuri Language Research and Development Organisation, Bangladesh", the "Bangladesh Manipuri Sahitya Sangsad", the "Manipur Cultural Complex, Bangladesh", etc. work for the development of Meitei language, Meitei literature and Meitei culture in Bangladesh.[5][6]

Intelligibility with Indian Meitei

Regarding the similarities and differences between the Bangladeshi Meitei language and Indian Meitei language, Ethnologue says the following:

Intelligibility of Meitei in Bangladesh is difficult. Those in Bangladesh may understand India Meitei better than vice versa possibly due to more language change in Bangladesh over the years. India Meitei is more standard. Intelligibility between dialects in Bangladesh definitely sufficient to understand complex and abstract discourse. Lexical similarity: 80%–86% between dialects in Bangladesh, 65%–70% between Bangladesh and India varieties.

— Ethnologue[7]

Geographical distribution
Areas where there is significant population of Meitei speakers (Manipuris) in Bangladesh

The population of Meitei speakers (Manipuris) are found in four districts, namely Sylhet District, Moulvibazar District, Sunamganj District and Habiganj District of the Sylhet Division of Bangladesh. In early times, there were Meitei speaking population in Dhaka, Mymensingh and Comilla also.[8]

Sylhet district

There are thirteen villages in Sylhet District, which are Amborkhana (Nongthombam Leikai in Meitei language), Nayabazar, Shibgonj, Goaipara, Kewapara, Sagordighirpar (Pukhri Mapan in Meitei language), Baghbari, Laladighipar (Sapam Leikai in Meitei language), Lamabazar (Leichom Leikai in Meitei language), Doxingach, Rajbari (Konung Leikai in Meitei language), Brojonath Tila (Meitei people refer to it as Brajanath Leikai but earlier it was known as Narasingh Tila) and Noyabazar (Sylhet P.S.) among others.[8]

Mouluvibazar district

Moulvibazar District has twenty-eight Meitei populated settlements, which are Photiguli, Goalbari, Naldhari, Boroiloli (Kulaura P.S.), Ramnagar, Khaspur, Balishira (Shrimongol P.S.), Gouranagar, Puthadhor, Chotodhamai, Patharia, Gourangabil (Borolekha P.S.), Madhobpur, Chaiciri (Nongthombam Leikai in Meitei language), Homerjan, Majhergaon, Shangaon (Hamom Khul in Meitei language), Haqtiarkhola, Shripiire, Bhandarigaon, Chitlia, Noyapattan, Ganganagar, Bhanubil, Katabil Tateygaon (Mange Makhong Khul in Meitei language), Mongolpur (Haobam Leikai in Meitei language), Konagoan (Kamalgonj P.S.), among others.[8]

Habiganj district

Habigonj District (Chunarghat P.S.) had four Meitei settlement areas, which are Gaborkhula, Abadgaon, Shibnagar and Dudhpatil.[8]

Sunamganj district

Sunamgonj District (Chatak P.S.) has three Meitei populated settlements, which are Nayanpur, Lakhat and Ratanpur.[8]

Meitei language festival
Main article: Meitei language festival
Meitei language festival (Manipuri Bhasha Utsav)

The Meitei language festival (Meitei: ꯃꯩꯇꯩꯂꯣꯟꯒꯤ ꯀꯨꯝꯃꯩ/মৈতৈলোনগী কুম্মৈ, romanized: Meiteilon-gi Kummei), formally known as the Manipuri language festival (Meitei: ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯂꯣꯟꯒꯤ ꯀꯨꯝꯃꯩ/মণিপুরী লোনগী কুম্মৈ, romanized: Manipuri Lon-gi Kummei) or the Manipuri Bhasha Utsav (ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯚꯥꯁꯥ ꯎꯠꯁꯕ/মণিপুরী ভাষা উৎসব), is an annual cultural event that aims to the protection and the development of Meitei language, indigenous Meitei script[lower-alpha 1] and Meitei culture[lower-alpha 2] in Bangladesh.[11] The event is conducted by the "Bangladesh Manipuri Sahitya Sangsad" (Meitei: ꯕꯥꯡꯂꯥꯗꯦꯁ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯁꯥꯍꯤꯇ꯭ꯌ ꯁꯪꯁꯗ/বাংলাদেশ মণিপুরী সাহিত্য সংসদ) since the year 2008.[12][13]

Meitei language day in Bangladesh
Main article: Meitei language day § Events in Bangladesh
The Meitei language day (Manipuri language day)

The Meitei language day (Meitei: ꯃꯩꯇꯩꯂꯣꯟꯒꯤ ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯠ/মৈতৈলোনগী নুমীৎ, romanized: Meiteilon-gi Numit), formally known as the Manipuri language day (Meitei: ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯂꯣꯟꯒꯤ ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯠ/মণিপুরী লোনগী নুমীৎ, romanized: Manipuri Lon-gi Numit), is annually celebrated on 20th of August, in the People's Republic of Bangladesh,[lower-alpha 3] commemorating the inclusion of Meitei language in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India and becoming one of the official languages of the Indian Republic. In 2022, it was organised by the "Manipuri Language Research and Development Organisation, Bangladesh" at Manipuri Kangshang, Nayapatand in Bhanugharh in Moulvibazar District, attended by the Indian delegates alongside the notable linguistic personalities of Bangladesh, including professor Amar Yumnam of Manipur University (MU), professor Dr Homen Thangjam of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), professor Jinen Laishramcha of the University of Seoul, South Korea and members of the "Manipur Cultural Complex, Bangladesh" and the "Manipuri Language Research and Development Organisation, Bangladesh".[14]

The slogan for the event of the year 2022 was "Lets speak our mother tongue, write in our mother tongue, love our mother tongue".[15]

International Manipuri Short Story Festival in Bangladesh

The International Manipuri Short Story Festival is a 3-day international linguistic event, jointly organised by the "Bangladesh Manipuri Sahitya Sangsad" (Meitei: ꯕꯥꯡꯂꯥꯗꯦꯁ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯁꯥꯍꯤꯇ꯭ꯌ ꯁꯪꯁꯗ/বাংলাদেশ মণিপুরী সাহিত্য সংসদ) of Sylhet and the "Manipuri Short Story Society" of India. In December 2022, it was organised at the Zilla Parishad conference hall in Sylhet, Bangladesh. On its first day, there was bestowing of "Sinam Tanubabu Memorial International Award 2022" to Mutum Ramani Devi, an Indian authoress from Manipur, in recognition of her literary work named “Fongngamdraba Cheinakhol” (Meitei: ꯐꯣꯡꯉꯝꯗ꯭ꯔꯕ ꯆꯩꯅꯥꯈꯣꯜ/ফোংঙমদ্রবা চৈনাখোল), which is an anthology of Meitei language short stories. AK Seram, a Bangladeshi author, received the "Lifetime Achievement Award of the Manipuri Short Story Society, India" ("Rajkumar Sitaljit Memorial Award"). In the event, 26 Indian writers (predominantly from Manipur and Assam), alongside the numerous Bangladeshi writers, attended and presented their literary works in the symposium of the event.[16]

Meitei cinema

In Dhaka international film festival

In the Dhaka International Film Festival 2022, a Meitei language feature film Pandam Amada (Meitei: ꯄꯥꯟꯗꯝ ꯑꯃꯗ/পান্দম অমদা), directed by an Indian National award winning filmmaker Oinam Gautam (Meitei: ꯑꯣꯏꯅꯥꯝ ꯒꯧꯇꯝ/ওইনাম গৌতম), was premiered.[17]

Indo-Bangladeshi Meitei language films

Bangladeshki Sana Tampha (Meitei: ꯕꯥꯡꯂꯥꯗꯦꯁꯀꯤ ꯁꯅꯥ ꯇꯝꯐꯥ/বাংলাদেশকী সনা তমফা) is the first Indo-Bangladeshi Meitei language film. Released in 2022, it portrays the life of the Meitei people in Bangladesh, starring Indian Meitei actors, including Gurumayum Bonny, Abenao Elangbam, among others.[18]

In the Liberation Docfest Bangladesh

In the 8th Liberation Docfest Bangladesh 2020, a 52 minute documentary Meitei language film "Highways of Life", directed and written by Amar Maibam, won the "Best Film" award. It is the only Indian film & second from Asia to be selected from 1,800 films, against seven documentaries from Belgium, Slovenia, Germany, Argentina, UK, Italy and Iran, in the event.[19]

Publications of books
Name of the book(s) Romanization(s) Author(s) Year of publication Note(s)
In Meitei script In Eastern Nagari script
ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯗꯥꯡꯋꯥꯏꯔꯝꯒꯤ ꯆꯤꯒꯣꯡꯂꯩ নুমিদাংৱাইরমগী চিগোংলৈ Numidangwairamgee Chigonglei AK Seram 2023 [20]
ꯄꯟꯊꯨꯡ ꯇꯝꯅ পন্থুং তমনা Panthung Tamna 2022 [21]

See also

Further reading
  • "Bangladesh Manipuri wants Manipuri Language in Primary schools : 02nd oct19 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  • "28 films lined up for Intl film fest". www.thesangaiexpress.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.

Notes
  1. The event promotes indigenous Meitei writing system to be used for Meitei language, other than the already predominantly used Bengali script.[9]
  2. The event also focusses on the cultural programs, besides the mother tongue, Meitei language.[10]
  3. simultaneously with the celebration of the same event in India

References
  1. "Meitei | Ethnologue Free". Ethnologue (Free All). Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  2. "Meitei | Ethnologue Free". Ethnologue (Free All). Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  3. "'Bangladesh Manipuris promoting culture, language' : 24th apr22 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  4. "Bangladeshi Meiteis in dire situation : 22nd apr22 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  5. "Manipuri Language Day celebrated in Bangladesh : 22nd aug22 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  6. NEWS, NE NOW (2022-12-25). "International Manipuri Short Story Festival held in Bangladesh". NORTHEAST NOW. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  7. "Meitei | Ethnologue Free". Ethnologue (Free All). Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  8. "Textile Bdesh Myanmar 3". www.e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  9. প্রতিনিধি. "কমলগঞ্জে দিনব্যাপী মণিপুরি ভাষা ও সংস্কৃতি উৎসব". Prothomalo (in Bengali).
  10. Paul, Jibon (2022-05-14). "কমলগঞ্জে মণিপুরি ভাষা ও সংস্কৃতি উৎসব". দৈনিক জালালাবাদ | Daily Jalalabad.
  11. "কমলগঞ্জে মনিপুরী ভাষা উৎসব উদযাপিত". www.bangla-times.com.
  12. "কমলগঞ্জে মণিপুরি ভাষা উৎসব পালিত". ABNEWS24 (in Bengali). Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  13. "নিজস্ব ভাষা সাহিত্যকে যথার্থ চর্চার মাধ্যমেই বাঁচিয়ে রাখা সম্ভব". সিলেটের ডাক. 2023-03-10.
  14. "Manipuri Language Day celebrated in Bangladesh : 22nd aug22 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  15. "Manipuri Language Day observed in Bangladesh : 23rd aug22 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  16. NEWS, NE NOW (2022-12-25). "International Manipuri Short Story Festival held in Bangladesh". NORTHEAST NOW. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  17. NEWS, NE NOW (2019-11-02). "Manipuri film 'Pandam Amada' to premiere at Dhaka film fest". NORTHEAST NOW. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  18. "Bangladesh Manipuri Sahitya Sangsad holds reception for PAWF delegates". Imphal Free Press. Retrieved 2023-05-02. ... programmes along with the release of the first ever Indo-Bangla Manipuri digital film entitled "Bangladesh ki SanaTampha".
  19. –"Manipuri film – Highways of Life wins big in International Film Festival". thenortheasttoday.com. 2020-06-22. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
    –NewsDesk, T. N. M. (2020-06-21). "Manipur film wins best film award at Bangladesh Film festival". Retrieved 2023-05-02.
    –NEWS, NE NOW (2020-06-22). "Manipur documentary wins best film in Bangladesh". NORTHEAST NOW. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
    –S, Vangamla Salle K. (2020-06-25). "Film on Manipur truckers' lives wins coveted award in Bangladesh". EastMojo. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
    –"Highways of Life best film at 8th Liberation DocFest Bangladesh 2020". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  20. "Bangladesh Manipuri writer AK Seram's book released : 17th apr23 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  21. "International Manipuri Short Story Festival held in Bangladesh". North East Weekly. 2022. Retrieved 2023-05-02. A book titled – "Panthung Tamna" a collection of Manipuri short stories was also released on the occasion.
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