Besides TIPRA Motha MLA and opposition leader Animesh Debbarma , the Roman Script for Kokborok Choba (RSKC), an organization advocating for the use of the Roman script for the Kokborok language, has also strongly criticized the State Government’s decision to form a script committee for Kokborok. The RSKC expressed its discontent with the composition of the committee and called for its dissolution.
The chairman of RSKC, Bikashroy Debbarma, expressed his dissatisfaction with the government’s circular issued on June 27, which announced the formation of the script committee. He raised concerns about the committee’s chairman, Dr. Atul Debbarma, who is a former Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Bikashroy Debbarma alleged that the committee members, Birolal Tripura and Dhendra Koloi, also have affiliations with the ruling BJP and are strong proponents of the Debonagori Script, which has been widely rejected by the Kokborok-speaking population.
The RSKC described the formation of the committee as unrealistic, undesirable, ill-intended, and undemocratic. Bikashroy Debbarma emphasized that Kokborok does not belong to any political party, and decisions regarding its script should be made through consultation with all stakeholders, including the Kokborok-speaking community.
Rejecting the committee’s formation, Bikashroy Debbarma pointed out that previous language commissions, such as the Pabitra Sarkar Bhasa Commission and Shyamacharan Tripura Bhasa Commission, have already addressed the issue. He called on the Government of Tripura to immediately dissolve the committee.
Bikashroy Debbarma expressed concern that the government’s unilateral and undemocratic action could escalate tensions and announced that the RSKC would launch a comprehensive movement to protect the Kokborok language, involving the entire Kokborok-speaking society.
The controversy surrounding the script committee highlights the ongoing debate and differing perspectives on the choice of script for the Kokborok language.
(representative pic)
