Congress Greets Tripura on Kokborok Day, Calls for Unity in Diversity

Kokborok Day, also known as Tripuri Language Day, is observed every year on January 19 in the Indian state of Tripura to promote and preserve the Kokborok language. The day commemorates the year 1979, when Kokborok was officially recognised by the Tripura government for the first time. This year marks the 46th anniversary of the observance, which aims to revive and strengthen the ancient language spoken for thousands of years by the indigenous Tripuri community.

Taking to X, Congress said, "We extend our warm wishes to our sisters and brothers in Tripura on Kokborok Day. The day commemorates the initial recognition of Kokborok as an official language in 1979. May this day bring about unity and inspire pride in our diverse cultures and rich heritage."

Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge also took to his social media and extended his best wishes to the people of Tripura on Kokborok Day, celebrating the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of the state.

"Warm greetings to the people of Tripura on the occasion of Kokborok Day. This special observance celebrates Kokborok - an ancient, culturally vibrant indigenous language spoken for millennia, and highlights the richness of India's diversity and shared values," Kharge posted on X.

Kokborok, also known as Tripuri or Tiprakok, is the native language of Tripura and has been used by the local Tripuri people for generations. It is regarded as one of the classical languages of Northeast India. The people are referred to as 'Borok,' while the language is known as 'Kok.' Earlier, the language was commonly called Tiprakok or Tripurikok.

Kokborok belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family of languages and is one of the principal native languages spoken in the northeastern state of Tripura, as well as in the nearby Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. Over the years, Kokborok has emerged as one of the fastest-growing and developing Tibeto-Burman languages in the region.

The language is primarily spoken by various Tripuri clans, including Debbarma, Kalai, Reang, Jamatia, Tripura, Noatia, Rupini, Murasing, and Uchoi. Collectively, speakers of the Kokborok language identify themselves as "Tripuris."

- IANS