Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha rejects Tipra Motha Party’s demand for Roman script for Kokborok language, calling it harmful to tribal culture and identity, ahead of crucial TTAADC elections in the state.
In a politically sensitive move ahead of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has firmly rejected the demand raised by the Tipra Motha Party (TMP) to introduce the Roman script for the Kokborok language. Kokborok is the mother tongue of nine out of the 19 indigenous tribal communities living in the northeastern state.
Addressing a large gathering of tribal people at Jolaibari in South Tripura on Tuesday, the Chief Minister made it clear that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government does not support the adoption of what he described as a “foreign script” for the indigenous language. His remarks are being seen as a significant political statement, especially as electoral activity intensifies in tribal-dominated regions.
Saha emphasized that the issue of script selection should be resolved through consensus among tribal intellectuals, scholars, and linguistic experts, rather than through political pressure. However, he categorically ruled out the Roman script as an option, warning that its adoption could have long-term cultural consequences.
“If the Roman script is adopted for Kokborok, the younger generation of the tribal community may gradually forget their traditions, customs, and cultural roots,” the Chief Minister said. He argued that language is deeply connected to identity and heritage, and any change should strengthen, not dilute, indigenous culture.
Drawing a comparison with other tribal communities, Saha noted that the Chakma community has successfully developed and preserved its own script. He questioned why Kokborok-speaking communities should lag behind in creating or standardizing a script that reflects their indigenous identity.
The Chief Minister also accused certain groups of creating confusion among tribal youth by repeatedly raising the Roman script demand. According to him, such debates risk diverting attention from more pressing issues such as education, employment, and economic development in tribal areas.
Reiterating the BJP’s commitment to indigenous welfare, Saha claimed that his government has undertaken multiple initiatives aimed at the holistic development of tribal communities. These include measures to promote tribal culture, preserve traditional practices, and honour the historical legacy of the Manikya dynasty, which ruled Tripura for centuries.
“Our party has strengthened its organizational base in tribal regions over the past few months. We do not believe in imposing decisions or using force. We believe in winning the trust of people through performance and development,” he said.
The Chief Minister’s remarks come amid continued agitation by the Tipra Motha Party, a key BJP ally and a prominent tribal-based political force, which has been pressing for the Roman script for Kokborok. TMP leaders argue that Kokborok belongs to the Tibeto-Burman language family and shares linguistic similarities with languages such as Bodo, Garo, and Dimasa, many of which use or have experimented with Roman scripts.
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According to the 2011 Census, Kokborok is spoken by 880,537 people in Tripura, accounting for nearly 24 percent of the state’s population of approximately 4.2 million. It serves as the primary language for nine major tribal clans, including Tripura, Debbarma, Jamatia, Noatia, Murasingh, Reang, Kalai, Rupini, and Uchowi.
The debate over the Kokborok script is not new. Since 1988, at least two expert committees—headed by tribal leader Shyama Charan Tripura and renowned linguist and academician Pabitra Sarkar—have examined the issue, though a definitive resolution remains elusive.
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With TTAADC elections approaching, the language debate is expected to remain a key political issue, influencing voter sentiment across Tripura’s tribal heartland.
