Emphasising the importance of language, MLA Nemcha Kipgen launched ‘Napao Kijilin’ on Thursday at Deborah Hall, Mount Sinai School at Motbung Model village where prize distribution of 'Community-level Competition on Thadou Arts and Poetry' was also conducted.
The prize distribution and launching programme organised by Thadou Linguistics Forum (TLF) was attended by MLA Nemcha Kipgen as chief guest while social activist Lamtinthang Haokip and chief of Motbung Model village Kaikhosei Lhouvum attended as guest of honour and president respectively.
After the declaration of the online ‘Community Level Competition on Thadou Arts and Poetry’ winners, Nemcha Kipgen along with other dignitaries distributed the prize to the winners.
Pastor Mangboi Thadou who attended the function as the dedicating minister invoked a blessing prayer for all the participants and winners of the competition.
Nemcha said that it is important to preserve one’s language as it is responsible for the development of the culture of a community and helps in the preservation of one's heritage and traditions.
She said novelist Khaled Hosseini had rightly pointed out that if culture is a house, then language is the key to the front door and to all the rooms inside the house.
Saving of indigenous languages like the ‘Thadou’ is crucial to ensure the protection of cultural identity and dignity of the indigenous people and safeguard their traditional heritage, she said.
“When a language is lost, part of that culture is lost and by the same measure, when language is preserved, the traditions and customs continue living in the hearts and minds of those who understand it,” she added.
She also said that language is considered an important tool that helps to create cultural ties, friendships, and relationships while it also helps to define the concept of culture in society as culture and language are closely connected.
Appreciating the initiatives of the Thadou Linguistics Forum, she said that the efforts and struggles of the forum will bring a bright future for future generations and it will hone the youths towards cultural and socio development.
Lamtinthang Haokip and Kaikhosei Lhouvum also spoke on the occasion and appreciated the humble initiative of the Thadou Linguistics Forum.
Secretary of the Thadou Linguistics Forum Paominlun Lhouvum, said that Thadou Linguistics Forum was formed on March 22, 2021 at TBA Conference Hall, Motbung after it was unanimously resolved on March 16, 2019 in a joint meeting of all, who were concerned about the Thadou dialect, from Tengnoupal, Churachandpur, Chandel, Kangpokpi and other districts.
Thadou Poetry and History, and other many Thadou booklets were distributed to various individuals and institutions under Kangpokpi apart from other districts and state representatives during the function which was handed over by the MLA and other dignitaries.
