In the run-up to crucial tribal polls, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has shot down Tipra Motha Party’s (TMP) long-standing demand for Roman script in Kokborok, the vital language of nine tribal groups.
At a vibrant public meeting in South Tripura’s Jolaibari, Saha reiterated the BJP government’s opposition to ‘foreign’ scripts. ‘Let our linguists and intellectuals unite to choose a fitting script—anything but Roman,’ he urged.
The CM expressed deep concerns over cultural dilution: ‘Adopting Roman could make our children forget their rituals, heritage, and roots entirely.’ He praised the Chakma for pioneering their script, challenging Kokborok proponents to innovate similarly.
Labeling the Roman push as youth-befuddling propaganda, Saha outlined BJP’s pro-tribal measures: boosting economies, nurturing traditions, and honoring historic figures from the Manikya lineage.
He boasted of BJP’s expanding tribal footprint through superior delivery, not muscle power. ‘We earn votes by proving our worth,’ Saha said.
TMP, BJP’s tribal-centric partner, persists with protests, arguing Kokborok’s Tibeto-Burman links to Bodo, Garo, and Dimasa warrant modern scripting.
With TTAADC elections nearing, Saha’s rebuff signals strategic maneuvering to protect indigenous identity amid alliance pressures.