Tripura: 16 Tiprasa representatives urged to adopt Roman script
Agartala: Sixteen elected representatives from Tiprasa, including Tipra Motha Party supremo and District Council member Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma and Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma, have written to Chief Minister Manik Saha, urging the adoption of the Roman script for the Kokborok or Cow-Bru language, and presented a four-point memorandum to the state government.
In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister, the legislators from the Tripura Legislative Assembly and the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council stated that the demand for the Roman script is within the constitutional framework and reflects the long-standing aspirations of the Kokborok-speaking community.
The signatories argued that the denial of the Roman script violates Article 29(1) of the Constitution, which protects citizens’ right to preserve their language, script, and culture.
They also cited Article 350A, which emphasizes the importance of education in the mother tongue, and Article 14, which guarantees equality before the law.
The memorandum also mentioned the Sixth Schedule, under which the TTAADC operates.
The representatives demanded that the Roman script be adopted as the official script for Kokborok in the state. They also demanded that Kokborok question papers in CBSE, ICSE, and TBSE exams be printed in Roman script to provide equal academic opportunities to Kokborok-speaking and non-Kokborok students.
They also demanded that all Kokborok textbooks be published in Roman script and that government recruitment exams, including those of the Tripura Public Service Commission, be conducted in Roman script.
The memorandum stated that Kokborok was recognized as the state language in 1979 through an amendment to the Tripura Official Language Act, 1964, and has held official status since then.
It also stated that the demand for the Roman script has been ongoing since 1967 and is supported by the reports of the Shyama Charan Tripura, Kumud Kunda Chaudhary, and Pavitra Sarkar Language Commissions, which documented overwhelming public support for the Roman script.
The representatives stated that the imposition of another script has hindered the language’s development and urged the Chief Minister to facilitate the recognition of the Roman script to ensure the development of Kokborok and the empowerment of its speakers.
They stated that the state government has the full legal capacity to recognize the Roman script through executive or policy decisions and requested the Chief Minister’s immediate and appropriate intervention.
Posting the letter on a social media platform, Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarman wrote, “The elected representatives of Tipra, including myself, have officially informed the authorities of our unequivocal support for Kok Borok in Roman script. It is important for other elected Tiprasa representatives to clarify their stance. Any lack of clarity or silence on this important issue will have far-reaching consequences for our children and future generations, transcending political differences.”
