Agartala, Aug 20: Tripura Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy on Thursday highlighted the significant contributions of Manipuri writers and the wider Manipuri community to the state's artistic, cultural and social life, stressing that the survival of any language ultimately depends on its speakers and the generations that carry it forward.

Speaking at the 35th state-level Manipuri Language Day celebration at Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Town Hall in Agartala, the Finance Minister said, governments could provide recognition and protection to a language, but it was the people who spoke, wrote and passed it on to younger generations who ultimately kept it alive.

The event was organised by the Directorate of Kokborok and Other Minority Languages to commemorate the inclusion of Manipuri in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.

Manipur’s Minister for Art and Culture Khuraijam Loken Singh attended the programme as the guest of honour, while Pawanam Gunindro, Vice-Chancellor of Manipur University of Culture, was also present.

Speaking at the event, Singha Roy said Manipuri Language Day was more than just an annual celebration. He remembered the sacrifices and sustained efforts of Manipuri-speaking people, writers, activists and others whose struggle contributed to the language receiving constitutional recognition.

He also underlined the expansion of the Manipuri language and the importance of the Meitei script, while acknowledging the role played by Manipuri writers and the wider community in enriching Tripura’s cultural and social landscape.

The celebrations began with a colourful procession through various streets of Agartala, featuring members of the Manipuri community from different parts of Tripura. Participants dressed in traditional attire showcased the community’s rich cultural heritage. Manipur Art and Culture Minister Khuraijam Loken Singh inaugurated the procession.

Recalling the historical significance of August 20, Loken Singh said he himself had participated in a student-led rally in 1992 demanding the inclusion of Manipuri in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. He praised the Tripura government for commemorating Manipuri Language Day and promoting the language and its cultural heritage.

Pawanam Gunindro said the movement for constitutional recognition of Manipuri was not confined to Manipur. Members of the Manipuri community living in Assam and Tripura had also played an important role in the struggle, and their sacrifices should be remembered, he said.

Manipuri was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution on August 20, 1992, through the 71st Constitutional Amendment. The historic development is commemorated every year as Manipuri Language Day in Manipur and other parts of the country with significant Manipuri-speaking populations.

As part of this year’s celebration, four individuals were honoured for their contributions to Manipuri language and culture. Salam Brajendra Singh was recognised for Nata Sankirtana, Selaibam Jiban Sen for his contribution to Manipuri folk music, Shamulailathapam Ongbi Suradhani Sharma for her contribution to Manipuri literature, and Gurumayum Nitai Sharma for his contribution as a teacher of the Manipuri language.

The inaugural programme was followed by a cultural presentation featuring Manipuri traditions and various forms of traditional art.