Agartala, December 20:Renowned language expert Pabitra Sarkar has once again stepped into the ongoing script controversy surrounding the adoption of Roman, Bengali, or Devanagari for Kokborok, the primary tribal language in Tripura.
This linguistic debate, persisting for approximately seven decades, has become a pivotal issue, particularly within the tribal-based political and socio-cultural movements of the state.
Pabitra Sarkar, who previously led a commission during the Left Front rule in 2005 and submitted a comprehensive 102-page report on the matter, rekindled the discussion by proposing a resolution during a conclave organized by News Venguard, a local media house in Agartala.
Addressing the issue in an exclusive interview with North East Live, he recommended adopting the Roman script, citing the majority preference among Kokborok speakers for this writing system.
The script controversy has been a persistent challenge for the indigenous community, with various language commissions formed over the years to seek a consensus and resolve the matter.
Despite these efforts, a unanimous opinion has proven elusive, leading to prolonged uncertainty.
The main opposition party, TIPRA Motha, along with its youth, student and few other socio-cultural organizations, has recently revived the debate.
Over the past few months, they have organized movements advocating for the adoption of the Roman script.
Pabitra Sarkar’s endorsement of the Roman script is expected to provide further impetus to the opposition’s stance on the issue.
As the linguistic landscape of Tripura continues to be shaped by this ongoing debate, the proposal from Pabitra Sarkar introduces a potential avenue for resolution, albeit one that is sure to spark further discussions and considerations among stakeholders.
