Tripura University Vice-Chancellor Ganga Prasad Prasian’s push for Devnagari as an appropriate script for languages without a script has again sparked the debate over the script of the Kokborok language.
The Kokborok Sahitya Sabha (KBSS), a body of Kokborok writers and poets has strongly condemned his views. “We are wonderstruck with the statement made by Prof. Prasain, how a person occupying an important position in the stature of a Vice-Chancellor could make such irresponsible remarks. It was beyond our expectation and we vehemently oppose and strongly condemn it,” the KBSS said in an email statement to Highland Post.
The body also suggested the Vice Chancellor focus on his job rather than interfering in issues that are already in a state of impasse.
“We are also aware that Prof. Prasain hails from Manipur and is very much well versed with the history, political, socio-culture and economic condition of the people of North East India. In fact, North East India is a home to numerous tribes also known to Prof. Prasain. There are numerous languages in North East India and many of those languages have not been transcribed due to lack of script. However, such unwritten languages have a rich folk or oral tradition. Those languages which are unwritten or not able to settle on script issues, the people belonging to that particular community are struggling to resolve their own problems,” the statement said.
“Any interference or statements made by an outsider whoever it may be will create more problems than resolve. The communities whose languages have not been transcribed or written are themselves capable of deciding regarding their own language and script. Thus, the sweeping and irresponsible remark of Prof. Prasain, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor is neither desirable nor expected. We would earnestly request the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor not to entangle on the issue of script but rather work for the overall development of Kokborok and other indigenous languages of Tripura”, the KBSS said.
