Meitei script

In News

• Recently, there have been efforts made to replace the Bengali script that’s currently in use with Meitei Mayek or the Manipuri script in Manipur.

About Meitei script

• The Meitei script or the Meetei script is used for the Meitei language which is the official language of Manipur state of India.
• The script was once patronised by Meitei rulers but which fell into disuse with the advent of Hinduism and eventually disappeared.
  • It was used until the 18th century, when it was replaced by the Bengali alphabet.
• The Meiteilon (Manipuri language) script is fairly old. 
  • According to Mutua Bahadur of Mutua Museum which houses artefacts from all over Manipur there are coins dating back to the reign of Meidingu Ura Konthouba (568-658) and Meidingu Ayangba (821-910) ‘Meidingu’ are kings who belong to the Ningthouja clan whose rule extends from 33 AD to 1949 AD.
• The Manipur Official Language Act 1979: It was enacted with the definition of Manipuri language as “Meiteilon written in Bengali script and spoken by the majority of Manipuri population.
  • Manipuri written in Meitei Mayek was introduced in schools; now it is taught even at the university level by replacing Bengali script.
• Amendment Act of 2021: the definition of “Manipuri language” in the Official Language Act was modified as Meiteilon in Meetei Mayek and spoken by the majority of Manipur population.

Source:IE