Tripura govt to resolve tribal Kokborok script issue soon: CM Saha

Agartala, March 21 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday said that the state government would not compromise with students’ future and would resolve the tribal ‘Kokborok’ language script issue soon.

The Chief Minister in his statement on the first day of the week-long budget session said that the government is sincerely studying the ‘Kokborok’ language script issue and would resolve the issue soon.

“There were detailed discussions, and a series of talks were held on the issue. We questioned why the Roman script and why not the Devanagari script to write in the ‘Kokborok’ language? Many discussions took place, but no concrete decision was made. Several agitations and protests were held for many years. The leadership also met with me and we discussed the matter. As per the recent tripartite agreement, this script issue is also included, and talks are ongoing,” Saha told the House.

Emphasising that the present government is a government of pro-solutions, he said: “We must consider the pros and cons of the matter. We will resolve the issue.

“We respect all communities, traditions, and languages. We also want a final solution. In this year’s CBSE exams, around 1,412 students enrolled, 1,339 attended the exam, and 73 were absent. If the invigilator can understand, then the student will not face any issue. However, we will not compromise with students and their future. We will take steps to ensure that they do not face any problems,” he added.

Meanwhile, a leading tribal student organization — Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF) on Friday held a day-long demonstration demanding the adoption of the Roman script for tribal Kokborok language, and blockade the main VIP road leading to the Agartala Airport, Assembly, Civil Secretariat, High Court and other government installation.

The protest coincided with the first day of Tripura Assembly’s budget Session, intensifying their decades-old demand for script reform for Kokborok language.

Hundreds of tribal students and youths gathered near key intersections, severely disrupting vehicular movement and raising slogans in favor of their demand.

The protest led to massive traffic congestion, with commuters facing delays as security personnel struggled to clear the blockade.

Speaking to the media, TSF leader James Debbarma asserted that their demand for the Roman script for Kokborok language had been ignored for over five decades despite repeated assurances from successive governments.

He accused the state government of failing to recognise the preference of a large section of the indigenous community, who find Roman script more accessible than the Bengali script currently used in official records and education.

Sighting the example of formation of Bangladesh and due to imposition of Urdu over Bengali script, the TSF leader said that the state government has time and again failed to address the aspirations of indigenous communities.

“The Roman script is widely used among Kokborok speakers, and we will not back down until our demand is met,” said the TSF leader at the protest site.

–IANS

sc/pgh