Agartala, Feb 02, 2024, TRIPURA TIMES Desk

Agartala, Feb 02: In the wake of Tripura Board of Secondary Education president Dr. Dhananjoy Gon Chowdhury’s denial of Roman script for Kokborok language in the ensuring board examinations situation is increasingly turning volatile with leaders in favour of Roman script threatening wide agitations across the state.

The vexed issue became more complicated as soon as TIPRA Motha leader Pradyot Kishore Debbarman strongly opposing the TBSE decision in a Facebook post wherein he even smelt a ‘systematic conspiracy’ to kill the identity of the Kokborok-speaking people.

In his Face book post Pradyot Kishore wrote: “Any honest and logical person would agree to the fact that there is a systematic conspiracy to kill the linguistic identity of the indigenous people of the state…. the imposition of a specific (#Bengali) script doesn’t just affect exams; it restricts the choices and aspirations of our future generations. This was not, is not and will never be acceptable”.

The oblique meaning of the post that spoke of ‘systematic conspiracy’ did not go amiss immediately provoked reactions among his followers and the votaries of Roman script. While Opposition leader and TIPRA Motha MLA Animesh Debbarma took strong exception to the TBSE decision and warned of law and order situation. One of the leaders of the Roman Script movement and eminent artist Bikash Roy Debbarma along with others met the Board president Dr Gon Chowdhury and submitted deputation.

He also anticipated ‘violent protests’ if the TBSE decision remained in force. Later Roy Debbarma while talking to the reporters clarified the grey areas of the issue.

He pointed out that since 1979 there was no specific decision or administrative instruction from the government’s end that Kokborok exams should be given only in Bengali script.

The absence of any such decision also left open scope for the students to opt for Roman script, if so they wanted, and TBSE could not prevent them from doing so.

Roy Debbarma also threatened that if such instruction that examinations of Kokborok should be allowed only Bengali script then things ‘would go aflame’ and the onus would rest on the TBSE president.

In the meantime, Leader of the Opposition Animesh Debbarma, criticized the instruction issued by president of the Tripura Board of Secondary Education.

Debbarma expressed concern, stating, “If the TBSE president issues an order prohibiting the use of the Roman script, there will be protests blocking all roads.”

Addressing a press conference on Friday, the opposition leader emphasized that such a decision would spark significant unrest in the state, causing hardships for its residents. Debbarma warned that such actions could disrupt law and order.

He appealed to the government and Dr. Gon Chowdhury to reconsider, emphasizing the need for peaceful resolution. Debbarma highlighted that students had been accustomed to using both scripts and should be allowed to continue doing so to maintain peace.

He suspected that there might be external influences behind Dr. Chowdhury’s decision. Debbarma urged the Tripura government to address the matter seriously, emphasizing the potential repercussions of Dr. Gon Chowdhury’s decisions on governance and law enforcement within the state.