Hmar students want AIR link language decision deferred

IMPHAL, April 5: The Hmar Students’ Association (HAS), Churachandpur clarified that claim that “The Hmar people of Churachandpur and its adjoining areas had withdrawn from the earlier

stand on the issue of Link Language in the Churachandpur local station of All India Radio” is totally false, concocted and baseless.

The charge seems to have been created by individuals with vested interest and for their personal gains or with the intention of glorifying someone else, a release said.

The association reiterated the fact that it had never said “Hmar dialect” should be used as a link language in the radio station.

It said they had in fact said that the three more prominent dialects of the area –Hmar, Paite & Thadou (Kuki) should be used on rotational basis.

The HSA suggested the use of English or even Lushai (Mizo) which is easily understood by different communities of Churachandpur district rather than using a particular dialect mentioned above.

The association on behalf of the Hmar people asserted that in view of the volatile and sensitive nature of the issue, it will be unfortunate to commence service of the said station at this juncture with one dialect as the “link language”.

Community mandated organizations should mutually agree and not by few individuals with vested interest it said.

For instance, if Thadou(Kuki) have to be the said dialect, let other organisations of other communities such as the Paite/Zomi Council,YPA and SSPP officially endorse with their Hmar counterparts such as the Hmar Inpui, HYA and HSA and vice-versa ratify the decision.

The association appealed and requested the state government as well as those who matter in Brashar Bharati to take some time to consider the matter instead of rushing it, so as to avoid any confusion and chaos.

IFP
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HSA clarifies on link language in AIR local station

IMPHAL, Apr 5: Hmar Students’ Association (HSA) clarified that the students’ body in particular and Hmar people in general had ever asserted that Hmar dialect must be the ‘link language’ of the local All India Radio station of Churachandpur.

It said, the rumours going around in the recent days that ‘the Hmar people of Churachandpur and its adjoining areas had withdrawn from their earlier stand on the issue of link language in AIR Churachandpur’ is totally false, concocted and baseless.

HSA however admitted that it had suggested to use Hmar, Paite and Thadou (Kuki) on rotational basis. It further said, the students’ body had also suggested using of common languages like English or Lushai (Mizo) if the proposal for rotational basis is not acceptable.

HSA added that in view of the volatile and sensitive nature of the issue, it would be unfortunate to commence service of the said station at this particular juncture with one particular dialect as link language unless it is mutually agreed not by few individuals with vested interest but by community mandated organisations.

HSA also urged upon the State Government and Prashar Bharti to take some more time.

TSE