Agartala: Dr Dhananjoy Gan Choudhury, president of Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE), is facing backlash from the Kokborok-speaking community after expressing support for the Bengali script in Kokborok exams.
The controversy has escalated as various organisations, including Roman Script for Kokborok Choba (RSKC), demand the option for students to write their answer sheets in both Bengali and Roman scripts.
Several groups, including RSKC, held discussions with Dr Gan Choudhury, urging the Board to permit students to choose their preferred script. They argued that the absence of a definitive script should give students the flexibility to use either Bengali or Roman scripts.
The controversy intensified when media outlets reported Dr Gan Choudhury’s statement asserting that only the Bengali script would be allowed for the upcoming Madhyamik and HS exams. Responding to the criticism, he clarified that his support for the Bengali script was to ensure a fair examination process.
Dr Gan Choudhury explained, “We lack the infrastructure to introduce a new script overnight. Implementing the Roman script would require a minimum of five years to establish a fool-proof paper evaluation system, including the appointment of qualified teachers, printing textbooks in the Roman script, and training teachers to meet Board standards.”
He further revealed that a resolution was passed during a recent meeting of exam centre in-charges from all eight districts, making the Bengali script mandatory. Emphasising his concern over the lack of a mechanism for evaluating answer sheets in the Roman script, he questioned the fairness of such evaluations.
In response, Pradyot Kishore Debbarman, founder of TIPRA Motha and MDC of TTAADC, accused the TBSE president of jeopardising the future of students.
Debbarman urged the community to unite and fight against the decision, emphasising its impact on the employment prospects of students.
Leader of the Opposition, Animesh Debbarma, also criticised the Board President’s stance, while RSKC presented a memorandum asserting that dual scripts were allowed in Higher Education by the Tripura government, and Board exam students deserved equal treatment.
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The controversy deepened with a letter from ex-BJP MLA Dr Atul Debbarma, currently serving as Chairman of the advisory committee for Kokborok language development, instructing the TBSE to conduct exams in the Bengali script. RSKC condemned Dr Atul Debbarma’s directive in their response.
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