Imphal, September 3: Manipur University narrowly avoided a potential administrative and cultural crisis after its recent order mandating the compulsory use of Hindi for official noting and drafting was put on hold.
The move comes just days after Registrar M. Premjit Singh issued Office Order No. 274 on August 29, 2025, directing all departments and sections to adopt Hindi in official correspondence and promising quarterly inspections to monitor compliance.
The directive, drafted by the Official Language Implementation Committee, sparked concern among university staff and the wider Manipuri public, where Hindi is not widely used for official work. Recognizing the potential fallout, the University quickly issued a follow-up order (No. 279, dated September 2, 2025) putting the previous order in abeyance, citing “procedural lapses” as the reason for suspension.
The decision has been seen as a timely measure to prevent tension and unrest among staff while also respecting the local linguistic and cultural sentiment. Many observers noted that while the procedural lapse was officially cited, the broader issue appeared to be the imposition of Hindi over the region’s native languages.
