Textbooks in 8 dialects launched in Arunachal Pradesh

By Felix Anthony

Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has launched eight textbooks in a major boost to local dialects.

Realising the books on September 5, the Teachers Day, in the state capital of Itanagar, the chief minister said, “Saving language is preserving our culture and roots. Our root should not be forgotten and our unique identity should be kept alive.”

The textbooks are in the dialects of Nyishi, Wancho, Galo, Tagin, Kaman, Taraon, Idu and Tangsa. These will be used as third-language textbooks in upper primary schools from the next academic year.

“Most of our younger generation do not speak their mother tongue even at home. Having a local dialect textbook will not only help these children to learn their dialect but also to preserve it. If we do not preserve it, who will?” said the chief minister.

He congratulated the Community Based Organisations (CBOs) of these eight tribes for preparing the textbooks and the State Council of Educational Research and Training for coordinating the works and invited all other tribes in the State to contribute with their dialects.

Expressing happiness at the book release, the vice president of the Tangsa Script Development Committee, Kamjai Taism, said, “More than 600 languages in the country are in the verge of becoming non-existent. Nearly 250 languages have become extinct in the last 50 years. The release of our local dialects textbooks gives us hope and a reason to celebrate.”

Thanking the state government for introducing these books in the primary schools, Wanglung Mossang, a Tangsa script promoter from Changlang district, said, “Learning the local dialects will revive our forgotten folklores and the rich tribal songs and customs. In the absence of written script, preserving these was becoming more and more difficult. Now we have hope of protecting, preserving and promoting our unique tribal identity.”

Nanman Jugli, a CBO member from Tangsa tribe said, “It is a huge step forward in the right direction. It will give the much needed life to our endangered dialects in Arunachal Pradesh.”

State’s Education Minister, Taba Tedir, and secretary for Education, Niharika Rai, too spoke at the event.

There are 26 major tribes and more than 100 sub-tribes in Arunachal Pradesh, each having its own dialect. “We need to preserve them all. The release of these eight textbooks is a first step in that direction and it augurs well for the future,” said Banwang Losu, promoter of Wancho script from Longding district.