Tripura Kokborok Script Controversy

India — Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has rejected the long-standing demand for the adoption of the Roman script for the Kokborok language, which is widely spoken by 19 indigenous tribes in India — Tripura. Saha has instead suggested alternatives such as Devanagari or the development of a new script, arguing that a 'foreign script' could threaten indigenous identity. This decision has reignited a decades-old linguistic and political controversy, gaining fresh momentum ahead of the upcoming elections to the India — Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council. The India — Tipra Motha Party, an ally of the ruling India — Bharatiya Janata Party, along with various student organizations like the India — Tripura Indigenous Student Federation and Twipra Student Federation, have strongly advocated for the Roman script, citing academic challenges with the current Bengali script used in board examinations. The controversy reflects broader debates over identity, education, and cultural preservation in India — Tripura.