Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Wednesday said that efforts are afoot to protect and promote the Kokborok language, the mother tongue of nine major tribe groups of the state, through some special measures.
He said, “An advisory committee was formed shortly after the BJP government was formed in Tripura which has made a spat of recommendations to promote the indigenous language and make necessary arrangements for its preservation. Based on that, the state government is contemplating a host of special measures for the protection of the language which is the mother tongue of most of our Janjati brothers and sisters.”
The statement came shortly after a controversy centering on the script of the Kokborok language. The state government had to allow use of Roman script for Kokborok exams followed by widespread protests.
Speaking at the central event organized to mark International Mother Language Day, Dr Saha appealed to the masses to show equal respect to all languages.
“Tripura is a state of multiple languages. While Bengali and Kokborok are two dominant languages, people of Manipuri, Garo, Bru, Kuki-Mizo, Chakma and Mog origins also account for a substantial portion of the state’s population. All these communities have their distinct languages,” Dr Saha has said.
According to Dr Saha, all these languages are being taught at the school level. “While Kokborok is being taught in 1,296 primary, 115 high, and 65 Higher Secondary schools, other minority languages are also taught in primary and upper primary levels. Right now, Chakma language is taught in 123 schools, the Manipuri language is taught in 24 schools, and Bishnupriya Manipuri is available as a subject in 39 schools. Halam language, Kuki Mizo language, Mog language, and Garo language are being taught in 90, 15, 37, and 13 schools respectively,” said Dr Saha who also holds the portfolio of education.
According to the Chief Minister, Directorate of Kokborok and other minority languages is a special department which had been effectively shouldering the responsibility of preparing textbooks for higher classes after the 8th standard.
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Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh Arif Mohammad who was also present at the event paid his homage to the martyrs of the language movement.
He said, “On this special day, I would like to show my respect to all the people who can freely practice their mother language.”
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