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TTAADC Elections Fuel Kokborok Script Debate

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, Agartala
  • Feb 14, 2026
  • 7

Thousands of Kokborok-speaking students formed human chains across Tripura on Saturday, intensifying a long-standing linguistic and political contestation over the script of the indigenous language. Demonstrations were organised at 11 locations under the banner of the United Movement Committee for Roman Script (UMCRC), with participants vocally pressing for the formal adoption of the Roman script for Kokborok.

Kokborok, the second official language of Tripura and the mother tongue of 19 indigenous tribes, has remained at the centre of a protracted orthographic debate. Addressing reporters, John Debbarma, convener of UMCRC, asserted that the state must acknowledge the linguistic aspirations of Kokborok-speaking communities and introduce the Roman script.

He expressed dissatisfaction with recent remarks made by Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, contending that a democratically elected government cannot disregard popular sentiment.
Responding to the protests, Dr. Saha rejected the demand and alleged that vested interests were orchestrating the movement.

Clarifying his position, he stated that he was not opposed to Kokborok or to English per se, but maintained that Roman script—characterised by him as a “foreign script”—should not be institutionalised for the language.

Referring to constitutional provisions, he suggested that adopting a foreign script could present legal and cultural complications. He further noted that there is currently no prohibition on writing Kokborok examinations in either Bengali or Roman script.

The Chief Minister also advocated for the exploration or development of an indigenous script, arguing that the state possesses adequate intellectual and cultural resources to undertake such an initiative. He accused certain political actors of attempting to instrumentalise the issue for electoral advantage.
For years, the Tipra Motha Party and its affiliated student organisations—Tipra Indigenous Student Federation (TISF) and Twipra Student Federation (TSF)—have championed the Roman script, arguing that it would enhance pedagogical accessibility and improve literacy outcomes among indigenous students. Proponents maintain that Roman orthography is already widely used in informal and digital communication, thereby making it a pragmatic choice.

The controversy has acquired renewed political salience ahead of the forthcoming elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), exposing fissures between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its ally Tipra Motha.

While the latter has unequivocally endorsed the Roman script demand, the state government has reiterated its preference for alternatives such as Devanagari or the formulation of a distinct indigenous script.
Observers note that the Kokborok script debate transcends orthography; it encapsulates deeper questions of cultural identity, constitutional interpretation, educational equity, and sub-regional political alignment.

As electoral dynamics intensify, the script question is poised to remain a pivotal and polarising issue within Tripura’s sociopolitical landscape.