The Manipuri Students’ Federation (MSF) on Wednesday renewed its agitation, demanding the translation of school and college textbooks into Manipuri language, following the Centre’s allocation of Rs 18 crore for the preservation and promotion of the vernacular language and script. The agitation took the form of human chains on key routes in Imphal East district, with protesters holding placards and shouting slogans such as “Respect Manipuri Language, Respect Manipur,” “Promote Our Script, Preserve Our Identity,” and “Education in Mother Tongue is Our Right.”
“Students in the state continue to rely on textbooks written in other languages, which distances them from their roots and hinders effective learning,” MSF general secretary Sundar Khuman said. It may be recalled that the MSF had submitted a memorandum to the Governor on May 12, 2025, requesting immediate review of educational material to promote the Manipuri language, which is included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. The protesting students called on government authorities to take immediate steps to publish and make available textbooks and reference books in the Manipuri language.
