Agartala, Jan 25 (NationPress) Esteemed author and tribal scholar from Tripura, Naresh Chandra Dev Varma, who was recently awarded the Padma Shri on Sunday, expressed his heartfelt thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central government for acknowledging his contributions to tribal language and literature.

The nonagenarian writer shared his immense joy upon being selected for the distinguished national accolade by the Union government under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.

“This honour is not just for me. It is a tribute to the Kokborok language and its literary heritage,” the Padma Shri laureate stated in an interview with IANS.

A passionate supporter of the Kokborok language, Dev Varma, who previously held the position of Deputy Secretary in the Tripura Assembly Secretariat, has penned 34 books in this tribal language and has been instrumental in its academic advancement and cultural acknowledgment.

Additionally, he has edited numerous journals and publications and has been actively involved in intellectual and cultural discussions surrounding Kokborok for many years.

Dev Varma has persistently advocated for the use of Bangla or Devanagari scripts for Kokborok, believing that these scripts would facilitate easier reading, teaching, and preservation of the language for upcoming generations.

The Padma Shri award recognizes his relentless efforts in safeguarding Tripura’s linguistic heritage and enhancing indigenous literature.

Tripura's Chief Minister Manik Saha congratulated Dev Varma, who also received the Tripura Bhushan Award in 2024.

In a statement on X, the Chief Minister remarked: “Heartfelt congratulations to Shri Naresh Chandra Dev Varma ji on being awarded the esteemed Padma Shri for his remarkable contributions to Kokborok literature and education.

“In recognition of his exceptional service, the Government of Tripura honored him with the Tripura Bhushan Award in 2024. Tripura is immensely proud of you.”

Highly esteemed throughout Tripura, Dev Varma is celebrated for his work in literature, language, culture, and social issues. His contributions have profoundly influenced various communities, and he remains actively engaged, frequently participating in cultural, social, and intellectual events, seminars, and workshops.

Born on October 31, 1944, in Kunjaban, Agartala, Dev Varma comes from a humble farming family. His parents were Madan Mohan Dev Varma and Sambhu Laxmi Dev Varma.

According to the 2011 Census, Kokborok is spoken by 880,537 tribal individuals in Tripura, representing 23.97% of the state's total population of around 4.2 million. It serves as the mother tongue for nine of the 19 tribal communities in the state.

There are nine principal Kokborok clans — Tripura, Debbarma, Jamatia, Noatia, Murasingh, Reang, Kalai, Rupini, and Uchowi.

Kokborok was granted second official language status on January 19, 1979, by the then CPI(M)-led Left Front government, and January 19 is celebrated annually to honor this significant recognition.