Agartala, January 25:
In a moment of pride for Tripura and its rich indigenous heritage, eminent litterateur and educationist Naresh Chandra Dev Varma will be conferred the prestigious Padma Shri Award 2026 for his outstanding contribution to Literature and Education.
The honour recognises his lifelong dedication to the preservation, promotion and academic development of the Kokborok language, the mother tongue of nearly 1.5 million Tripuri people spread across Tripura, parts of the Northeast and neighbouring Bangladesh.
Born on October 31, 1944, in Kunjaban, Agartala, into a family of marginal farmers, Dev Varma’s journey stands as a quiet yet powerful story of commitment, scholarship and cultural responsibility.
From his early education at Dhariathal Primary School in Bishramganj to higher studies at MBB College and graduation under Calcutta University, his bond with his mother tongue remained unshaken.
Over the decades, he authored 38 books in Kokborok, including grammar texts, essays and in-depth studies on tribal language, culture and society.
Several of his works are today part of college and university curricula, shaping young minds and strengthening the academic foundation of the language.
A respected figure across communities, Dev Varma has been a regular presence at seminars, workshops and cultural forums, where he consistently urges the younger generation to embrace Kokborok with pride and responsibility.
He believes that language is not merely a means of communication, but the soul of identity, history and collective memory.
Currently serving as President of the Kokborok Sahitya Parisad, and one of the founders of the Tripura Kokborok Sahitya Sabha established in 1972, he has played a pivotal role in institutionalising Kokborok literature.
His leadership in framing spelling methods, grammar, syllabi and dictionary projects has given the language a structured and scholarly future.
Even after retiring as Officer on Special Duty from the Tripura Legislative Assembly Secretariat in 2002, Dev Varma’s service to society never slowed.
As a guest lecturer at Tripura University for over 15 years, he mentored countless students, many of whom now carry forward his mission.
The Padma Shri not only honours an individual, but also celebrates Kokborok itself—its resilience, richness and relevance.
As Tripura rejoices, Naresh Chandra Dev Varma’s life stands as a gentle reminder to the youth: preserving one’s language is preserving one’s identity.
