Editing Meitei language (section)

== Literature ==
{{Main|Ancient Meitei literature|Meitei literature}}
[[File:The classical Meitei epic of the "Numit Kappa", written in ancient Meitei language (in archaic Meitei script).jpg|thumb|The [[Numit Kappa]], a Classical Meitei 1st century epic based on Meitei mythology and religion.]]
The ''[[Khamba Thoibi Sheireng]]'', a poem of 39,000&nbsp;verses composed by Hijam Anganghal Singh and first published in 1940 ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|[[ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡ]]}}|Poem on [[Khamba Thoibi]]}})<ref>{{Cite book |last=George |first=K. M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA29 |title=Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=1992 |isbn=978-81-7201-324-0 |location=India |pages=29 |language=en}}</ref> is regarded as the [[national epic]] of the [[Manipuris]].<ref name="George 1992 258">{{Cite book |last=George |first=K. M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA258 |title=Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems |date=1992 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=978-81-7201-324-0 |location=India |pages=258 |language=en |quote=H. Anganghal Singh's Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (Poem on Khamba Thoibi, 1940) is a national epic of the Manipuris based on the story of Khamba and Thoibi of Moirang. The poet composes the whole epic in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads sung by minstrels or bards popular in Manipur.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA1186 |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=1988 |isbn=978-81-260-1194-0 |location=India |pages=1186 |language=en}}</ref> It is a classical Meitei language [[epic poem]] based on the ancient romantic adventure tale of [[Khamba and Thoibi]] of [[Moirang]]. It is regarded as the greatest of all Meitei epic poems.<ref name="Datta 1988 1573">{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA1573 |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=1988 |isbn=978-81-260-1194-0 |location=India |pages=1573 |language=en |quote=His best work, Khamba Thoibi sheireng, in 39,000 lines on the story of 'Khamba and Thoibi' was started in 1939 and the composition was completed in 1940.}}</ref><ref name=":Sisir">{{Cite book |last=Das |first=Sisir Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sqBjpV9OzcsC&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA190 |title=A History of Indian Literature: 1911–1956, struggle for freedom : triumph and tragedy |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=2005 |isbn=978-81-7201-798-9 |pages=190 |language=en |quote=His epic Singel Indu was published in 1938 which was followed by his magnum opus Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (1940), a poem of 39000 lines, considered to be the 'national' epic of the Manipuris, written in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gL_8DwAAQBAJ&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Seireng&pg=PA1582 |title=AKASHVANI: Vol. XL. No. 35 ( 31 AUGUST, 1975 ) |date=31 August 1975 |publisher=All India Radio (AIR) |location=New Delhi |pages=1582 |language=en}}</ref>

The [[Meitei classical language movement]] seeks to gain recognition for Meitei as one of the [[Classical Languages of India]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Government must take concrete step for recognition of Manipuri as classical language |url=https://www.ifp.co.in/manipur/government-must-take-concrete-step-for-recognition-of-manipuri-as-classical-language |website=Imphal Free Press |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=IANS |date=20 August 2016 |title=Classic language status for Manipuri demanded |work=Business Standard India |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/classic-language-status-for-manipuri-demanded-116082000690_1.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 August 2019 |title=Manipur Govt Begins Efforts for Inclusion of Manipuri Among 'Classical' Languages |url=http://www.indiatodayne.in/breaking-news/story/manipur-govt-begins-efforts-inclusion-manipuri-among-classical-languages-397876-2019-08-21 |website=India Today NE |language=hi}}</ref>