Kokborok Day
Kokborok day (Borok day) is observed in the state of Tripura for the development of Kokborok language. It is observed on January 19 every year. Kokborok language is an official language in Tripura, with first status in the autonomous district council of the state. This day is chosen to commemorate its recognition as an official language in 1979.[1][2] The activities include cultural programmes and literary activities.[3]
Kokborok is the Indigenous language of Tripura spoken for thousand of years among the indigenous communities of Tripura."Kok" means language,"borok" means people(here the people who speak kokborok).Kokborok language is one of the tibetu-burman languages widely spoken in North east part of India and neighbouring CHT hill tracts of Bangladesh. Today kokborok language is one of the fastest growing and developing language among Tibeto-burman languages in the region.The language is spoken mainly by the Debbarma,Kalai,Reang,Jamatia,Tripura,noatia,Rupini et all. However the language has close similarities with other Tibetu-burman languages like Bodo,Garo and Dimasa.The communities who speak kokborok are categorised as tripuri communities but Kalai and Rupini communities though known as "Halam" communities also speak kokborok.Not only that Reang and Jamatia even though they are known as Brue and Jamatia respectively,their language is kokborok.Literarily all these communities who speak kokborok are known as "Borok".
The script of the kokborok is not yet finalised due to many socio-political debates but many people prefer writing it in "Roman script" and some people write kokborok in "bengali" script.It has been mentioned in the chronicle of the Tripura Kings who were the borok rulers(184 kings) of tripura over thousand years that "KOLOMA" was the script of kokborok which is not currently known anymore.
"Kokborok tei Hukumu Mission" and many other Govt and Non Govt groups are continuously involved in promoting and developing kokborok languages,literatures and films/songs through cultural revolution.It has been great achievement by the people of tripura that the kokborok language is now taught in govt. schools,colleges and universities.The effort is still being made to further improve the language to bring into mainstream.