Tribal students in Tripura hold torch rallies protesting Chief Minister Manik Saha’s remarks on Kokborok script selection, demanding Roman script recognition and safeguarding indigenous linguistic rights amid growing political and cultural tensions.
Several tribal student organizations under the leadership of the Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF) and the Tipra Indigenous Students’ Federation (TISF) on Thursday staged torch rallies at multiple locations across Tripura to protest against Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha’s recent remarks on the script selection of the Kokborok language.
In the state capital Agartala, leaders and members of TSF and TISF took out a torch rally from Swami Vivekananda Maidan. The procession moved through major streets of the city before culminating in front of the Tripura State Museum. Similar rallies were reportedly held in other parts of the state, highlighting growing discontent among tribal students over the long-pending script debate.
The torch rallies were organized in response to the Chief Minister’s statement suggesting that Kokborok speakers should adopt an indigenous script instead of the Roman script. According to the Chief Minister, opting for an indigenous script could strengthen the prospects of Kokborok being included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which grants official recognition to languages at the national level.
However, tribal student bodies and indigenous organizations have strongly opposed this view. For decades, they have been demanding official recognition of the Roman script for Kokborok, which is the most widely spoken language among Tripura’s tribal communities. Protesters argued that the Roman script has been historically used in education, literature, and communication, and denying its acceptance amounts to suppressing linguistic freedom.
The script issue has been a contentious matter for many years. During Tripura Board examinations in the past, confusion and disputes arose regarding the script in which Kokborok answer papers should be written. Although the state government intervened at the time to resolve the immediate crisis, no permanent policy decision was taken, leaving the larger debate unresolved.
Reacting sharply to the Chief Minister’s recent statement, the Tipra Motha Party extended its support to the protesting student bodies. Soon after, TSF and TISF announced statewide torch rallies to assert their demand and draw public attention to what they described as a denial of cultural and linguistic rights.
Addressing the gathering during the Agartala rally, TSF leader John Debbarma said that indigenous communities have been deprived of their right to choose their own script for nearly five decades. He accused successive governments of ignoring the legitimate demands of tribal people and failing to deliver justice. He further warned that the community would no longer remain silent on the issue.
TSF General Secretary Hamalu Jamatia stated that several other student and indigenous organizations, including Bru, Kaipeng, and Mizo conventions, extended solidarity to the torch rally. He described the protest as a united movement to protect linguistic identity and democratic rights.
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The student bodies reiterated that any decision on the Kokborok script must be taken through consultation with indigenous communities and stakeholders. They warned that continued neglect of their demands could intensify protests across Tripura in the coming days.
