Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha emphasized the BJP government’s initiatives to enhance the use of the tribal Kokborok language in the state. Kokborok is now taught from Class I to Class XII, with a dedicated department at Tripura University. The language is being taught in numerous primary, high, and higher secondary schools across Tripura.
Since the BJP government took office in 2018, there has been a significant increase in efforts to promote and develop the Kokborok language. Over 60 books on the language have been published, and a pocket Kokborok dictionary is set for release, preceding a comprehensive dictionary. Various research projects on Kokborok are also in progress.
Kokborok Day was celebrated with a cultural program at the Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan, attended by key figures like Atul Debbarma and Rampada Jamatia. Debbarma highlighted the importance of mother tongue in preserving collective consciousness, emphasizing the deep-rooted significance of Kokborok Day for the people. The history of Kokborok is intertwined with Tripura’s indigenous communities, evolving alongside their ethnic identity.
BJP MLA Rampada Jamatia urged active promotion and practice of the Kokborok language for its enrichment and vibrancy. The event featured the unveiling of four Kokborok book covers and the felicitation of six teachers for their contributions to Kokborok language education. A colorful rally was also held to mark the occasion, culminating at the Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan.
Kokborok was officially recognized as the second language on January 19, 1979, by the then CPI(M)-led Left Front government. The ongoing debate over the use of Bengali or Roman scripts for Kokborok has been a point of contention for many years. The language, spoken by a significant population in Tripura, holds a special place among the state’s tribal communities.
