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Manipuri
The official language of the state of
Manipur is known as Manipuri. This language is also known by the name of
Meitei. The offices and government institutions of Manipur recognize
Manipuri as their official language. This language has also influenced
nearby states of Assam and Tripura and is also spoken there. It is also
spoken in some parts of Bangladesh and Myanmar. Almost all ethnic groups
of Manipur speak this language and that has helped greatly in the
regional integration.
Meitei is also the medium of education in Manipur. In some universities
of India, Manipur is taught as a subject to the post graduate level
students also. Manipuri is different from Bishnupriya Manipuri, which is
classified as an Indo-Aryan language. As per the earliest written
evidence on the history of Manipuri, the language dates back to the 11th
century. It had an independent script that was in use until 18th
century. This script was derived from the Tibetan group of scripts.
With the arrival of the British rule, the script was modified and came
to be known and used as the Bengali script. This script is being used
till date. Efforts are being made to restore the original script and
renew it. This will give it further recognition and importance among the
current generation. In Manipur, more than 60 percent of the people
converse in Manipuri and there is an urgent need to revive its original
script before it completely fades away from the memories of the people.