Tripura, historically known for its support of Bangladesh’s Liberation War and the Bangla Bhasha Andolan, is now facing a renewed language debate over Kokborok, the indigenous language of the state. The controversy erupted after Union Home Minister Amit Shah advocated the use of Devanagari for “scriptless” northeastern languages, citing national unity as a reason.
Traditionally written in the Bengali script since at least the 14th century, Kokborok has seen growing demands over the past four decades for adoption of the Roman script, particularly among educated tribal youth.
“There has never been any conflict over language or script in Tripura. People here speak Bengali, Kokborok, and Hindi, and all these languages are moving forward together,” Shah said at an Agartala event on February 20. Criticising regional linguistic nationalist movements, he questioned the logic of using “foreign scripts” to preserve identity and suggested that Tripura follow the example of other northeastern languages that have adopted Devanagari.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha echoed the Home Minister, saying the promotion of Hindi should complement the preservation of local languages. “Language should connect people, not divide them. A widely known language like Hindi strengthens the bond between the public and the government,” he said.
However, the remarks have created tension within the ruling BJP-led alliance ahead of local body elections. Tribal allies Tipra Motha and the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) insist on Roman script for Kokborok, warning that forcing Devanagari could threaten their participation in the government. IPFT criticised the CM’s comments as “unsolicited advice” from a non-native speaker. Tribal Affairs Minister Bikash Debbarma further escalated the row, challenging Tipra Motha’s alliance with the BJP.
The Congress protested by hoisting black flags, accusing the Home Minister of attempting “linguistic aggression” and imposing Hindi over local languages. CPI(M) leader Jitendra Chaudhury called the demand “a result of RSS ideology” and warned it could undermine the development of northeastern languages.
Tripura’s demographic history adds layers to the debate. Once a tribal-majority princely state, the influx of Bengali refugees after the 1947 Partition and 1971 Liberation War reduced the tribal population from 52.89% in 1901 to around 31% today, pushing Kokborok to the margins of administration and higher education.
Over the years, the state has formed multiple Kokborok language commissions, with past reports favouring the Roman script. Both Congress and Left Front governments previously allowed the use of Bengali and Roman scripts in education. Currently, Kokborok is taught in 22 government degree colleges and at Tripura Central University, with an estimated 8.14 lakh speakers from various tribal communities.
With the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections set for April, tribal parties are using the Roman script issue to consolidate indigenous support, while the BJP’s preference for Devanagari or Bengali scripts has fuelled political and cultural tensions.