Meitei-Mayek taught in educational institutions is incomplete for reading the archaic Meitei manuscripts "Puya", NKSCT chairman N Tombi Raj said and stressed the need of adding the alphabets that are left out in the Meitei-Mayek.
Raj was speaking at the inaugural function of a three-Day Puya Awareness Cum Exhibition 2022 held on Thursday at Uripok Ningthoukhongjam Leikai in Imphal West.
It was organised by the N Khelchandra Singh Charitable Trust (NKSCT) in association with the All Manipur Manuscripts Custodian Association (AMMCA) and the Khwai Martial Arts Academy (KMAA).
Raj said that Puya is the archaic Meitei manuscripts which encompasses a wide spectrum of subjects, including health sciences, literature, chronology, administration, economic management, philosophy and others.
He said that the ugly fact is that almost cent per cent of the population of Manipur are unable to read the manuscripts of Puya which is indeed a "treasure of knowledge."
Elaborating that Manipuri is a tonal language which has different tonal inflection for different words, he said it is also impossible to rewrite the Puya in the Meitei-Mayek which is used currently.
So, if the younger generation cannot read the Puya, it will become "lost fortune," he added.
Raj also lauded the efforts of the different organisations which included the Meitei-Mayek in the educational syllabus till the master level and appealed to the people of Manipur for considering the addition of the left out alphabets in the Meitei-Mayek so that the knowledge of Puya can be handed down to the future generations.
Regarding the health sciences written in Puya, he informed that they will be collaborating with the IBSD to scientifically utilise the techniques.
As many as 300 manuscripts of Puya were showcased during the exhibition apart from releasing a book entitled "Meitei Mayek Laigi Mayek" compiled and published by Yumnam Chaoba Meitei.
The function was also attended by Ningthemcha Sanayaima (Meghen) and AMMCA president K Bidhu Khuman as presidium members.
