Agartala: The Tripura government has initiated steps to include the Chakma language on Google Translate by compiling 50,000 words, with plans to gather another 50,000 soon, officials said on Tuesday. The move is aimed at ensuring the tribal language can be translated into English, Hindi and Bengali.
Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath said the decision was taken at a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Chakma Language Development. Alongside the Google Translate effort, the state has also resolved to observe Chakma Language and Script Day every year on August 7, starting in 2026.
According to the 2011 Census, Tripura had about 79,000 Chakmas, with the number now estimated to have risen to 1.2 lakh. The Chakma language is currently taught in 123 government schools, reaching over 4,000 students from Classes I to VIII, supported by 172 teachers.
To boost its growth further, the advisory panel also agreed to form nine sub-committees for different aspects of Chakma language development. Nath added that Kokborok, the native tongue of the Tripuri people, has already been integrated into Google Translate.
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