Biplab Deb gives interview in ‘Kokborok’ dialect

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Thursday sprang a surprise when he gave an interview in the ‘Kokborok’ dialect to a local television channel. Mr. Deb had earlier expressed interest in learn

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Thursday sprang a surprise when he gave an interview in the ‘Kokborok’ dialect to a local television channel. Mr. Deb had earlier expressed interest in learning the language, which is spoken by most of the State’s 33% indigenous population. The interview assumed significance as it was aired a day after TIPRA (Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance)-run authority of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) took a decision to use Kokborok for official communication. Kokborok was declared as the second official language of the State in 1979. But after the installation of the first ever CPI(M)-led Left Front government, it was not properly utilised for official matters. English and Bangla (dialect of the majority Bengali community) remained at the centre stage.