AGARTALA: Within hours of Tipra Indigenous Students Federation (TISF), taking to the streets demanding permission to write Korborok exams in Roman script, the government has given it.
Cabinet spokesperson, Sushanta Chowdhury, announced on Monday evening that indigenous students can now opt for the Roman script while writing their Kokborok subject in the board exams conducted by the Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE).
He further added that students will have the option to write their Kokborok papers in either the Roman or Bengali script in the forthcoming TBSE board exams.
“The Chief Minister has already written to the Chairman of CBSE concerning the Roman font matter. We are currently awaiting a response to this correspondence. We urge student organizations advocating for the strike and their supporters to reconsider their stance, as the current situation will remain unchanged,” he told the press.
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Chowdhury added that the BJP government in the state is committed to honour every language spoken in the state.
“Every language holds significant importance in the state. While every party retains the democratic right to call for a bandh, it inevitably disrupts the lives of citizens. Therefore, the state government has formally requested the withdrawal of the strike called by the student body affiliated with a political party,” he added.
Post the announcement, Opposition leader and chief of Tipra Motha, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma wrote on social media, “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.”
Earlier in the day, the TISF, the student arm of Tripura’s opposition TIPRA Motha, had begun an indefinite statewide protest, marking a significant escalation in the Kokborok language script controversy.
Taking to the streets, TISF members had blocked national highways and railways across various regions of the state since the crack of dawn on Monday.
The Tipra Motha has consistently advocated for the adoption of the Roman script for the Kokborok language.
