Agartala: Tripura on Friday observed the 40th Kokborok Divas to celebrate the lingua franca of Boroks, a majority among the state's indigenous communities.
Kokborok language is one of the official languages of Tripura. It was first adopted in the list of official languages in 1979, one year after the first Left Front government was formed.
The state houses 19 indigenous communities and a majority of them speak Kokborok. The state government is engaged in preserving and promoting the language with its introduction in school and college education and use as official language, among other initiatives.
In his speech at the central event at Umakanta Academy in the morning, tribal welfare department director L. Darlong said the state government has undertaken a series of initiatives to develop the indigenous language. "More needs to be done," he said and appealed for cooperation from all.
The Tribal Research Institute, Directorate of Kokborok and Other Minority Languages organised rallies to mark the day here.
A seminar to observe Kokborok Day was organised at Khumulwng, headquarters of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council.
Officials highlighted the achievements of the district council authorities to preserve Kokborok and other minority languages.
Autonomous council chief executive member Radhacharan Debbarma later told this correspondent that the council has been undertaking a sustained initiative to promote Kokborok education at primary and elementary levels. "Over a hundred books were published in Kokborok this academic year alone," Debbarma said, adding that efforts were on to publish a dictionary.