Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) has formally demanded the introduction of the Roman script for Kokborok textbooks used in the state’s educational institutions. The demand was raised amid ongoing debates and public movements surrounding the preferred script for the Kokborok language, which is primarily spoken by the indigenous communities in Tripura.
According to the TPCC, many students and community members find the Roman script more accessible than the currently used Bengali script. The party claimed that implementing the Roman script could enhance comprehension and promote inclusive education for tribal students who are native Kokborok speakers.
Tripura Congress leaders stated that students studying Kokborok often struggle with the Bengali script, which is not phonetically aligned with the language. They argued that the use of the Roman script would not only reflect the spoken structure of Kokborok more accurately but also improve academic performance and literacy among tribal communities.
This demand comes in the wake of recent student agitations and appeals from civil society organizations who have been advocating for the change. The TPCC further asserted that a significant number of students and educational stakeholders have expressed their preference for the Roman script, and ignoring this sentiment would risk alienating a key section of the population.
The party urged the state government to address the issue seriously and engage in consultations with linguistic experts, educators, and community representatives before making a final decision. They emphasized the importance of respecting cultural and linguistic identity while shaping educational policies in the state.
As of now, the state government has not issued a formal response to the demand. The issue of script choice for Kokborok has long been a subject of contention in Tripura, with periodic calls from different quarters for adopting either the Bengali or Roman script for official and educational purposes.
