The "Luangdilat Khuang," a common language wordbook for the Zeliangrong community, was officially launched on Tuesday at the Jubilee Hall of St. Xavier Church in Jalukie Town.
DIMAPUR, APRIL 1 (MExN): The "Luangdilat Khuang," a common language wordbook for the Zeliangrong community, was officially launched by Peren Deputy Commissioner Hiazu Meru on Tuesday at the Jubilee Hall of St. Xavier Church in Jalukie Town. This comprehensive wordbook, developed by a seven-member Luangdilat Language Commission, contains 4,000 words and aims to foster linguistic unity among the Zeliangrong people.
The "Luangdilat Khuang" serves as both a Luangdilat-English dictionary and a key component of an ambitious project led by the Luangdimai Citizens Forum (LCF). The initiative seeks to establish Luangdilat as a lingua franca by integrating elements from the four Luangdilat variants, ensuring linguistic integrity and mutual comprehensibility across the community.
Speaking at the event as the special guest, DC Peren Hiazu Meru praised the LCF for this historic endeavor. He emphasized the importance of language as a vital element of social interaction, cultural transmission, and self-expression. “Language is a powerful tool that unites societies, promotes understanding, and enables authentic self-expression,” he said.
Meru also referenced the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, highlighting its role in preserving indigenous languages while also noting the unintended divisions it may have caused among different tribal groups. He called for greater unity among the Zeliangrong people, who are spread across Nagaland, Manipur, and Assam. He further encouraged the community to strengthen their emotional bonds to foster greater solidarity.
The DC also underscored the importance of road connectivity for regional development and integration. Despite the agricultural potential of Peren district, Meru acknowledged the ongoing economic and educational challenges. He urged the community to prioritize education, emphasizing that a stronger village economy would ultimately improve the quality of life.
In his keynote address, Dai Remmei, Additional Central PF Commissioner, Government of India, and a member of the LCF Elders Board, described the launch as a testament to the rich Zeliangrong heritage. He highlighted that the wordbook was the product of years of hard work and collective determination. He also revealed that future editions would include conversational speech and grammar, making it a valuable resource for educational institutions.
Remmei praised the seven-member Language Commission for their dedication, noting that it took four years to compile the wordbook. He emphasized the importance of having a common language to facilitate communication within the community without depending on foreign languages. Reflecting on the shared history of the Zeliangrong people, he encouraged them to embrace unity and look forward to the future rather than dwell on past divisions.
Aaron Pamei, Director at the Ministry of Defence and Vice Chairman of the Luangdilat Commission, also addressed the gathering, expressing his aspiration to speak Luangdilat fluently in the future. Acknowledging that the wordbook was not perfect, Pamei commended it as a strong foundation for future generations. He also shared the challenges faced in compiling the wordbook, which required more than 6,000 hours of dedicated effort. He encouraged the community to embrace the language and make it part of their daily lives, with Jalukie, given its diverse population, serving as a potential hub for linguistic and cultural integration.
Edward Nring, Vice President of the All Zeliangrong Students’ Union (Assam, Manipur, Nagaland); K Akhang, President of Zeliangrong Baudi (AMN); and Dr. Achingliu Kamei, an author, poet, and Associate Professor at the University of Delhi, also spoke at the event. They lauded the initiative and expressed hope that it would strengthen cultural identity and unity within the Zeliangrong community.
