End Of 80-Year Wait: Bishnupriya Manipuri Introduced As Medium Of Instruction At Primary Level

Ending a wait of nearly eight decades, the Assam government has issued an official notification introducing the Bishnupriya Manipuri language as a medium of instruction at the primary level. The decision comes following the Satyagraha movement staged by various Bishnupriya Manipuri organisations earlier this year.

Following the Satyagraha held from February 12 to 20, over several demands, the state government invited representatives of major Bishnupriya Manipuri organisations to Dispur on February 20 for discussions. During the meeting, the government assured the representatives that their demands would be addressed at the earliest.

In line with that assurance, the Education Minister of Assam formally issued the notification on Saturday and handed it over to the representatives of the organisations. Through this notification, the Department of School Education has decided to introduce Bishnupriya Manipuri as a medium of instruction and also as a Modern Indian Language (MIL) at the primary level.

The order read:

Welcoming the development, Bishnupriya Manipuri leader, who also sat on the satyagraha, Gopidas Sinha said, “On February 24, the government had called us for a meeting regarding our demands. During that meeting, it was decided that our main demand—introducing Bishnupriya Manipuri as the medium of instruction at the primary level—would be considered. Our demands were widely discussed, and finally the Education Minister informed us that the Department of School Education, Government of Assam, has accepted Bishnupriya Manipuri as a medium of instruction and as an MIL at the primary level.”

He added that schools where Bishnupriya Manipuri-speaking students are present will be identified, after which the government will follow the due process for appointing teachers.

“We are a language minority, and this has been our struggle for over 80 years now. The Assam government has also assured us that they will do whatever is possible from their side to include the Bishnupriya community in the Central OBC list. We will also go to Delhi to discuss the matter with the Central Government to finalise it,” Sinha said.

According to the organisations, three out of the four demands raised during the Satyagraha movement have now been fulfilled. These include education in the mother tongue, appointment of teachers, and recognition under the Central OBC category. The remaining demand—the formation of a Bishnupriya Manipuri Autonomous Council—may take more time, the government reportedly told the organisations.

The organisations expressed gratitude to all groups that supported the Satyagraha movement as well as to the Assam government for accepting the demands.

Background Of The Satyagraha

The Satyagraha began on February 12 in Silchar with five Satyagrahis sitting on a hunger strike demanding the formation of a Bishnupriya Manipuri Autonomous Council, the introduction of education in the mother tongue, the appointment of teachers, and inclusion in the Central OBC list.

During the course of the agitation, two of the protestors fell ill and had to be hospitalised. The hunger strike was formally called off on February 20 when Cachar’s Executive Magistrate administered water to the remaining three Satyagrahis, bringing the nine-day-long agitation to an end.