Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 21
In a break-though initiative, the Zeme Literature Committee North East India (ZLCNEI) has come out with a Zeme common language dictionary called ‘Zeme Let,’ to literally and emotionally bind the Zeme Naga community spread out in the three North eastern states of Nagaland, Manipur and Assam.
February 21 was International Mother Language Day—experts have long maintained how parting education in the Mother language/dialect can increase the potential of a child to absorb learning, as well as of the teacher to part with it. Developing the Mother tongue is an attempt at developing the cultural context of peoples and creating space for cultures to grow together.
The Zeme dictionary, likewise, is aimed at fostering unity among the Zeme Nagas scattered in three states and preserving the rich ancient dialect of the Zemes by incorporating the two distinct Zeme dialects – Northern and Southern dialects.
The search for a common dialect of the Zeme Nagas was initiated by the Zeme Council North East India (ZCNEI) under the leadership of ZCNEI president, Raitu Elu, in 2013 and the Zeme Literature Committee North East India (ZLCNEI) was constituted in 2013 at Ze-nnui village, the oldest Zeme ancestral village in Senapati district, Manipur.
At a press conference held at ‘Nagi Paying Guest’ on Sunday afternoon, ZCNEI president, Raitu Elu, and members of the ZLCNEI, briefed mediapersons on the objectives and genesis of the Zeme common language dictionary.
Raitu Elu said taking into account the “dialect barrier” among the Zemes in different states, the ZCNEI decided to set up the ZLCNEI in order to foster unity and strengthen the common roots among the Zemes and subsequently nominated Rev. Bikau Pame, as chairman of the literature committee.
ZLCNEI chairman, Rev. Bikau Pame, said with an aim to integrate the two distinct dialects of the Zeme Naga- Northern and Southern dialects- the Zemes of Nagaland, Manipur and Assam held a first consultative meeting in Dimapur in 2013, followed by subsequent meetings in Assam and Manipur, and resolved to come out with a common language (dialect).
After much deliberations and reviews, the ZLCNEI came out with ‘Zeme Let,’ the first Zeme common language dictionary, which was formally released by Nagaland chief minister, TR Zeliang on February 13 this year at Gaili Namdi Village.
According to ZLCNEI members, the dictionary has the mandate of all 206 Zeme villages scattered in the states of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, with an estimated 1.6 lakh population.
According to ZLCNEI members, its respective units would approach the Education departments of the three states to introduce the dictionary as a text book in the primary level by 2017.
ZLCNEI representatives and Zeme leaders including Ambrose Riame and Mikaulang Riame from NC Hills (Assam), Rangom Hau, Namfuilungbe and Heikoloing from Manipur and Hairongbe from Nagaland also addressed the press conference.
