By TC News Desk
Agartala, 10th January 2025: The Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF), a prominent tribal student body under the North East Students Organisation (NESO), staged a demonstration near the Circuit House in Agartala on Friday, demanding the adoption of the Roman script for the Kokborok language. The protest coincided with the commencement of the winter session of the Tripura Legislative Assembly.
John Debbarma, Vice President of TSF, emphasized that the demand for the Roman script is a longstanding issue for the Kokborok-speaking community. Despite repeated efforts, including submitting memorandums and holding meetings with officials, no progress has been made.
“We have met the President of the Tripura Board of Secondary Education and the Special Secretary of the Education Department several times, but their assurances remain unfulfilled. The Special Secretary even promised updates before 2025, yet nothing has materialized. To make matters worse, he now refuses to meet us, leaving us in the dark about the status of our demands,” Debbarma said.
He criticized the apparent lack of political will to address the matter. “The government must recognize that justice is the foundation of peace. Ministers represent all citizens, and they have a duty to raise such critical issues in the Assembly. Unfortunately, this matter has been overlooked for years. We demand immediate attention and resolution during this Assembly session,” he added.
The TSF’s protest serves as a reminder of the growing frustration among Kokborok speakers, who view the adoption of the Roman script as essential for the preservation and growth of their language and culture. The demonstrators have called on the Tripura government to act decisively, ensuring their voices are heard in the legislative process.
