Kokborok language row: Govt assures status quo, TISF, TSF call off indefinite blockade

The Tipra Indigenous Students Federation (TISF) and the Twipra Students Federation (TSF) has called off their indefinite rail and road blockade demanding that students be allowed to write examination for the Kokborok papers in Roman as well as Bengali scripts.

This has been informed to Northeast Live by Tipra Motha leader and Tripura Leader of Opposition Animesh Debbarma.

Speaking in details, Animesh Debbarma said, “The issue of Roman script for Kokborok language was a long pending issue in Tripura. So far as my knowledge goes the movement for Roman script started way back in 1960 by the Twipra Students Federation (TSF) then Tribal Students Federation (TSF). And this movement was called by TISF, the student wing of TIPRA Motha when the TBSE President made a statement that people who are going to write exam in Kokborok language, they can use only Bengali script. So our argument was for the last 17 years Kokborok language was written in both the scripts, both Bengali and Roman. All of a sudden govt taking this kind of decision, we could not accept and our student organisation TISF called for a road and rail blockade. We have been requesting the government and also telling that we are in no mood to agitate on this issue because it has to be allowed in both the scripts. And now also they should allow. During the blockade today, our leaders including me have appealed to the government that sooner they declare their stand and clarify the position that Roman and Bengali, both scripts can be used for the Kokborok language, we will call off our blockade. So the moment on behalf of the government Minister Sushanta Chowdhury came with the statement that the state government has accepted the demand raised by the TISF, we decided that we should call off the bandh.”

The breakthrough could be achieved after the government held threadbare discussions with the agitating groups following which they were assured that status quo would be maintained on the Kokborok exam script.

Confirming about the government’s assurance, Tripura cabinet minister and state government spokesperson Sushanta Chowdhury also appealed the agitating groups to call off their blockade.
said, “Bandh is not a solution. Their (TISF and TSF) for Roman script in the examination (Kokborok), a status quo, the way it has been going on, our decision is that it will go on in the same manner (students will be allowed to write Kokborok language paper in both English and Bengali). We do not have anything to say about the CBSE. Everyone has the right to protest in democracy, on behalf of the government I want to appeal that the bandh (blockade) should be withdrawn. There will be status quo, exams will be conducted in the same manner as it was done before. Students will have the option of both Roman as well as Bengali script.”

Soon after this, TIPRA Motha chief Pradyot Kishore Debbarma took to X and shared his thoughts on the significant development.

His post read, “Before V for victory we must have U for unity ! Today we have prevailed tomorrow is another struggle if you put your personal interest over your indigenous communities Interest #Language #KokBorok #Thansa.”