TEZU, AUG 6:
The Lohit district administration organised the first Inter-School Mishmi (Kaman and Taroan) Speech Competition at Amik Ringya Hall here to promote and preserve the indigenous language, culture and traditions among the younger generation.
The competition was held in two categories, with students in the Taroan category speaking on “Solid Waste Management” and those in the Kaman category addressing “Opium Cultivation and its Ill Effects”.
Addressing the gathering, the Lohit Deputy Commissioner stressed the need to encourage children and youth to learn and use their mother tongue, noting that several indigenous languages of Arunachal Pradesh are facing the threat of decline.
While acknowledging the importance of Hindi as a language of wider communication, he said indigenous languages remain closely linked to the identity, culture and traditions of local communities.
He called upon Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), parents and other stakeholders to ensure that children use their native languages at home and in the community. He also said the District Administration would endeavour to make the competition a regular calendar event, providing students with a platform to learn, speak and take pride in their indigenous languages.
Lohit ZPC Basanlu Dellang, who attended the programme as chief guest, commended the initiative and said the themes chosen for the competition addressed important social concerns. She highlighted the adverse social, health and developmental impact of opium cultivation and the need for responsible solid waste management.
Dellang said such initiatives could promote indigenous languages while sensitising young people to pressing social issues.
Sunpura ZPM Gulapso Bellai underscored the close relationship between language and community identity, saying the disappearance of a community’s language and traditions could gradually erode its identity. Tezu ZPM Baplalum Chiba urged people to use their local language in everyday life and appealed to CBOs, including CALSOM, to organise more programmes for the promotion of indigenous languages and traditions.
CALSOM Chairman Sokhep Kri appreciated the district administration’s initiative and said the organisation had developed literature in local languages and undertaken various measures for the preservation of Mishmi language, culture and traditions. He informed that a Language Development Committee had also been constituted for the purpose.
Kri suggested extending the initiative to Anjaw district to cover a wider section of Mishmi-speaking communities. He also proposed recording the speeches of winners, particularly those dealing with opium cultivation and solid waste management, and developing them into awareness videos to promote the Mishmi language while disseminating socially relevant messages.
The competition brought together elected representatives, educators, parents, CBOs and students, highlighting the importance of collective efforts to preserve Mishmi language, culture and traditions for future generations. (DIPR)
