April 12, 2010
New Delhi
To,
The Chief Executive Officer
Prashar Bharati
New Delhi
Subject: Reconsider the link language for AIR, Churachandpur, Manipur
Greetings from the Hmar Students’ Association and the Kuki Students’ Organisation, Delhi. We, representing the two major tribes, Hmar and Thadou-Kuki, in Manipur’s Churachandpur district, sincerely pray that you and your esteemed department would seriously reconsider the decision of imposing Paite language as the link language for the proposed AIR Churachandpur, Manipur.
We take this opportunity to remind you that the earlier proposal for employing Paite as the link language was stalled due to the sensitive realities of the volatile district added by staunch disagreement by the other tribes. Keeping in mind the vulnerable state of the multi-ethnic divisions and multi-lingual realities of the district, it is our humble request that no one language is used as the link language for the proposed AIR project in the district. We also take this opportunity to intimate you that the mere proposal of one dialect for link language has currently raised uproar, disagreement and tensions in various levels in and outside Churachandpur district. Besides, imposing one dialect/language on the rest of other tribes would negate the constitutional, democratic and citizenship rights of the multi-ethnic citizens of the district.
The majority of the people of Churachandpur, represented by the Hmars and the Thadou-Kuki, strongly believe the imposition of one language as the continuity of the Government of India’s insensitivity and policy of reliving the unwanted colonial policy of divide and rule. The imposition of one language is going to create grave repercussions for which the concerned authorities will be morally responsible if our proposed recommendations are not considered.
In the interest of unity in diversity, democracy, peace, justice and development, the Hmar Students’ Association and the Kuki Students’ Organisation (Delhi) demands that:
1. Prashar Bharti immediately withdraw from imposing Paite language as the link language for the proposed AIR, Churachandpur, Manipur.
2. The language of the diverse tribes (Gangte, Hmar, Lushei, Paite, Simte, Thado-Kuki, Vaiphei, Zou, etc.) that constitutes the people of Churachandpur be used as the link language for the AIR Churachandpur on rotational basis.
3. If the above recommendations fail to fit into the terms and conditions of your esteemed department, we sincerely pray that the decision to inaugurate the station on April 13, 2010 be deferred till a consensus evolves. Thanking you.
Sincerely,
(JAMES PUSING SANATE)
President
Hmar Students’ Association, Delhi
(L. LETKHOMANG HAOKIP)
President
Kuki Students’ Organisation, Delhi
Copy to:
1. Joint Secretary, North East Incharge, MHA, Govt of India.
2. Director General, Doordarshan, Govt of India.
