Agartala, November 25:
With the politically crucial TTAADC and long-pending Village Committee elections of Tripura expected early next year, the demand for introducing the Roman script for the Kokborok language resurfaced prominently on Tuesday, as the Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF) staged a protest on one of Agartala’s busiest stretches.
TSF, a leading tribal students’ body affiliated with the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), demonstrated agitation in the VIP road near the Circuit House area, insisting that Kokborok textbooks and question papers must be printed in the Roman script.
The organisation argued that Kokborok speakers — forming the core electorate in the tribal-dominated District Council areas — have been denied their fundamental linguistic rights for decades.
At present, Kokborok — the dominant tribal language spoken across 70% of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) jurisdiction — is officially written only in the Bengali script. Tripura’s tribal communities, who constitute around 31% of the state’s projected 40 lakh population, have demanded official recognition of the Roman script in addition to the Bengali for more than five decades.
The agitators, carrying banners, posters, and flags, raised slogans in support of their demand, describing it as a long-pending issue essential for the development and preservation of indigenous identity. They argued that the community must be given the right to choose the script for their own language.
Amid simmering tension, a heavy contingent of police was deployed at the site, including Additional SP Dhruva Nath, who personally supervised the situation.
Nath stated that no prior permission had been granted for the demonstration, prompting the deployment along the route linking the airport, Secretariat, Assembly, High Court and other key nodes.
He added that as per the law action will be taken later against the agitators.
TSF vice president and NESO finance secretary John Debbarma said the government can no longer ignore the issue.
“Roman script for Kokborok is a historic demand, and young indigenous students who do not know Bengali are the worst sufferers. Kokborok must receive the same respect as other Indian languages,” he asserted, accusing successive governments of neglecting tribal linguistic aspirations.
The renewed Roman script movement may significantly influence the upcoming TTAADC and village polls, where Kokborok-speaking voters wield decisive influence.
The issue could emerge as a major election plank for tribal-centric parties and organisations advocating cultural assertion and greater autonomy as the agitation has clearly added a sharper political edge to the Kokborok script debate just months ahead of the elections.
