It is good news for the Naga students of Manipur four hill districts that the Nagaland government has decided to allow the students of the four Naga districts to appear for the Class X Examinations to be conducted by NBSE in February 2007.
We the Southern Nagas should express our gratitude and appreciation to the government of Nagaland, all elected members in the present Nagaland Assembly, the NBSE and those NGOs who took initiative in this issue such as Naga Hoho, NSF, NMA, NPMHR, etc. When I read this happy news in the newspapers, I vividly remember what late Yangmaso Shaiza, the former Chief Minister of Manipur said. That when he was the CM of Manipur, the Manipur government recommended the inclusion of Manipuri language to the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
When some of his supporters (Nagas) asked him why he had decided to include the Manipuri language to 8th Schedule, he in a very brief reply, said that since we are living in a democratic country where the majority rule the government, what we the tribals can do where out of 60 MLAs, we have only 19 MLAs. 41 are Meiteis. Further he said “when the Meiteis impose their language to us (tribals), we will bid goodbye and leave them.” What late Yangmaso said came true now. The Meitei imposed the Meitei (Manipuri) language and introduced their scripts i.e. Meitei Mayek to all the schools – govt. and private – in the state, the ANSAM with support of the UNC took up the matter and now, on humanity ground, the Nagaland government has allowed the Naga students to appear in the coming NBSE Examination. Nagas come closer now.
For the information of our brothers and sisters living outside Manipur, once the Manipur govt. tried to implement the Manipur Land Revenue Act to the hill districts, but Nagas opposed tooth and nail. Then they kept silent. The Manipur govt. also tried to make compulsory to have the Manipuri language taken by all the students including tribals in the Civil Services Examinations conducted by the UPSC but the ANSAM strongly opposed it. Then the government left the decision.
Now the Manipur government has imposed the Meitei language and introduced the Meitei Mayek (script) to the Nagas. When W. Nipamacha Singh was the CM, he declared in a public meeting that he would change the name of the state to Kangleipak or Meiteiland within three months. Now the present Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh said, “There is no Naga in Manipur.” Under such humiliation and suppressive position/situation, your brothers and sisters are living in Manipur.
M Mpamei
Tahamzam, Manipur
