Abstract

This article seeks to provide a detailed account of the movement for revival of Meitei (Manipuri) script. Laying the historical genesis of the movement in the infamous ‘Puya Mei-thaba’, which orchestrated a systemic destruction of ancient Meitei texts and manuscript, it underlines the argument of Naoriya Phulo that loss of indigenous script and language led to depletion of traditional repository of knowledge, ultimately affecting the Meitei economy and way of life. The article traces the beginning of the movement with the formation of Apokpa Marup by Phulo in 1930 under the moto, “Language is the father, and script is the mother.” It also covers the controversy surrounding the number of alphabets in the original script, eventually leading to the adoption of 27 alphabets (18 major alphabets and 9 derivatives). The article concludes that script and language are central components in the construction and preservation of a distinct Meitei identity as opposed to the acquired identity of being Hindus among the Meitei Vaishnavites.