HT Correspondent
AGARTALA, Jan 19: The 48th Kokborok Language Day celebrations in Tripura turned tense on Monday as indigenous student organisations staged a protest demanding the adoption of the Roman script for the Kokborok language.
The rally, which began in front of Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan, saw participation from students, teachers, and representatives of various schools and social organizations.
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It was led by MLA Rampada Jamatia and former MLA Atul Debbarma, convener of the Script Selection Committee for Kokborok language development.
Shortly after the event started, members of the Twipra Students Federation (TSF) and Tipra Indigenous Students Federation (TISF) arrived, raising slogans calling for the government to adopt the Roman script.
The protesters alleged that their long-standing demands had been ignored, despite official observances of Kokborok Language Day.
TSF Vice President John Debbarma said, “While the government is officially celebrating Kokborok Language Day, it continues to overlook the aspirations of the Tiprasa community. We are here to assert our rights and demand recognition of the Roman script for our language, which has been pending for decades.”
Police intervened to prevent escalation, citing that the demonstration was disrupting the rally. Reacting to the protest, MLA Rampada Jamatia described the disruption as unfortunate, emphasising the ongoing efforts to develop Kokborok and work toward its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
The script debate in Tripura remains unresolved, often sparking protests and political discussions among the indigenous community, highlighting the sensitive nature of language and cultural identity in the state.
