Agartala: Jan 15: The Tribal Students’ Federation (TSF) has once again staged a protest in front of the Tripura Secretariat, demanding that the Kokborok language be written in the Roman script. The protest, which occurred on the last day of the winter session of the Tripura Legislative Assembly, underscores the group’s long-standing demand. Earlier in the session, TSF had also protested near the Gandhi statue at the Circuit House, urging for question papers to be provided in both Bengali and Roman scripts.
The protesters, who were detained by the police and taken to Arundhatinagar Police Ground, emphasized the pressure students face as they are currently required to write in the Bengali script, even though many of them prefer the Roman script for their native language. A member of the TSF, speaking to the media, expressed frustration with the government’s inaction on this issue. The organization has been advocating for the adoption of the Roman script in educational materials, claiming that this would ease the academic burden on students and better reflect the linguistic preferences of the Kokborok-speaking community.
The protest is not just about the script itself, but also about the broader issue of linguistic recognition and the preservation of the Kokborok language. Despite the persistent calls from the TSF, the government has yet to take concrete steps to address their concerns. The protesters see this demonstration as an effort to draw the attention of legislators in the ongoing Assembly session, hoping that it will prompt the government to take swift action.
In summary, the TSF’s protest highlights the ongoing struggle for the recognition of the Roman script for Kokborok, reflecting the challenges faced by students and the community due to the lack of governmental support.
