Agartala: As many as 16 Tiprasa elected representatives, including Tipra Motha Party supremo and Member of District Council Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma and Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma, have written to Chief Minister Manik Saha, pressing for the adoption of the Roman script for the Kokborok or Kau-Bru language and placing a four-point charter of demands before the state government.
In a memorandum submitted to the chief minister, the legislators, drawn from the Tripura Legislative Assembly and the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council, said the demand for the Roman script was rooted in constitutional provisions and reflected the long-standing aspirations of the Kokborok-speaking community.
The signatories argued that denial of the Roman script violated Article 29(1) of the Constitution, which protects the right of citizens to conserve their language, script, and culture.
They also cited Article 350A, which stresses the importance of education in the mother tongue, and Article 14, which guarantees equality before the law.
The memorandum further referred to the Sixth Schedule, under which the TTAADC functions.
The representatives demanded that the Roman script be adopted as the official script for Kokborok in the state. They also sought that question papers for Kokborok in CBSE, ICSE, and TBSE examinations be printed in the Roman script to ensure equal academic opportunities for Kokborok-speaking and non-Kokborok-speaking students.
Publication of all Kokborok textbooks in the Roman script and conducting government recruitment examinations, including those by the Tripura Public Service Commission, in the Roman script were also demanded.
The memorandum noted that Kokborok was recognised as a state language in 1979 through an amendment to the Tripura Official Language Act, 1964, and has since enjoyed official status.
It added that the demand for the Roman script dates back to 1967 and has been supported by reports of the Shyama Charan Tripura, Kumud Kunda Chowdhury, and Pabitra Sarkar language commissions, which recorded widespread public support for the Roman script.
Imposition of an alternative script had hampered the development of the language, the representatives said, urging the chief minister to facilitate recognition of the Roman script to ensure the growth of Kokborok and the empowerment of its speakers.
They maintained that the state government had full legal competence to recognise the Roman script through executive or policy decisions and sought prompt and favourable intervention from the chief minister.
Posting the letter on social media platforms, Tipra Motha Supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarman wrote, “The Tipra elected representatives, including myself, have formally communicated to the authorities our unambiguous support for Kok Borok in Roman script. It is essential for other elected Tiprasa representatives to make their positions clear. Any ambiguity or silence on this critical issue could have far-reaching consequences for our children and future generations, surpassing political differences.”