Agartala, Feb 16 (NationPress) Following the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), another coalition partner of the ruling BJP, the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), has declared its intention to escalate protests advocating for the adoption of the Roman script for the tribal Kokborok language.

Both TMP and IPFT are tribal-centric parties and serve as junior allies to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Tripura. During a press briefing, IPFT General Secretary Swapan Debbarma emphasized that the decision regarding the script for the Kokborok language should be made exclusively by the indigenous population.

This announcement from IPFT arises amidst rising political tensions between TMP and the BJP concerning the endorsement of the Roman script for Kokborok.

Debbarma criticized Chief Minister Manik Saha, whose native language is Bengali, saying, “He should refrain from making unnecessary comments on this issue. His views may reflect personal beliefs rather than those of the BJP or the government.”

He further stated that the determination of the most suitable script for Kokborok should be made by its speakers.

In recent addresses, the Chief Minister has voiced opposition to the Roman script for Kokborok, advocating instead for the development of an indigenous script.

Kokborok serves as the mother tongue for nine out of the 19 tribal communities in Tripura.

“Tribal scholars and language specialists should collaboratively decide on an appropriate script for Kokborok, rather than opting for the Roman script. If the Roman script is implemented, the younger members of the tribal community risk losing touch with their traditions, customs, and cultural heritage,” the Chief Minister remarked.

He added that if the Chakma community can establish its own script, there is no justification for Kokborok speakers to lag behind. “The younger generation is becoming increasingly confused by the persistent demand for Roman script for Kokborok,” Saha noted. Meanwhile, the BJP’s ally TMP has been campaigning for several months for the incorporation of the Roman script for the Kokborok language.

A TMP representative mentioned that Kokborok, belonging to the Tibeto-Burman language family, shares close ties with other languages in the northeastern region, including Bodo, Garo, and Dimasa.

According to the 2011 Census, Kokborok is spoken by approximately 880,537 individuals in Tripura, making up 23.97% of the state's total population, which is around 4.2 million.

It is the primary language for nine of the 19 tribal communities in the state, with nine significant Kokborok clans: Tripura, Debbarma, Jamatia, Noatia, Murasingh, Reang, Kalai, Rupini, and Uchowi.

Since 1988, two commissions have been established, led by tribal leader Shyama Charan Tripura and distinguished linguist and scholar Pabitra Sarkar, to investigate this matter.

Kokborok was designated as the second official language on January 19, 1979, by the then CPI(M)-led Left Front government, and this date is commemorated annually to honor its historic recognition.