Kokborok Language Protests Call for Roman Script Adoption

The Tribal Students’ Federation (TSF) has renewed its protest in Tripura, demanding the adoption of the Roman script for the Kokborok language. This demand is not new, as the TSF has been advocating for years to have question papers prepared in both Bengali and Roman scripts. The protests are aimed at addressing the challenges faced by students who are required to write exams in Bengali script despite Kokborok being officially recognized. This movement highlights the need for greater recognition and support for Kokborok, which is spoken by a significant portion of the state’s population.

Key Highlights

Protest Details

• TSF staged a protest in front of the Tripura Secretariat.
• The police detained the protesters and took them to Arundhatinagar Police Ground.
• The protest was held on the last day of the Tripura Legislative Assembly’s winter session.

Student Challenges

• TSF advocates for question papers to be available in both Bengali and Roman scripts.
• Students face pressure to write exams in Bengali script, which is not conducive to those who speak Kokborok.

Historical Context

• Kokborok is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Borok people of Tripura.
• Officially recognized in 1979, Kokborok has historical roots dating back to the 1st century AD.
• As of the 2011 Census, around 880,537 people speak Kokborok, nearly 24% of Tripura’s population.

Roman Script Demand

• The Roman script is seen as a way to enhance literacy and cultural identity for Kokborok speakers.
• The demand for Roman script adoption aims to address existing challenges in education and improve accessibility.

Previous Efforts

• The TSF has been demanding this change for years and has met with various officials, including the Tripura Board of Secondary Education.
• Despite previous promises of updates before 2025, no significant progress has been made.

Official Language Status

• There is also a demand for Kokborok to be recognized as one of India’s official languages under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
• Recognition would increase its use in official contexts, education, and government work.

Language Background

• Kokborok belongs to the Bodo–Garo branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family, related to Bodo and Dimasa languages.
• The Agartala dialect is the official form of Kokborok.

Current Challenges

• Despite its official status, Kokborok faces challenges in terms of resources, recognition, and support.
• The community continues to advocate for linguistic rights, educational support, and wider recognition of Kokborok.