AGARTALA, Jan 19 (TIWN): Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Tuesday inaugurated a programme organized on the occasion of the ‘Kokborok Day’ at Muktadhara Hall.

The programme was inaugurated in the presence of Chief Executive Member (CEM) of TTAADC Radha Charan Debbarma, Tribal Welfare Minister Aghore Debbarma and others.

Kokborok Day is observed in Tripura for the development of Kokborok language and practice among the people.

The Kokborok is a language of Borok people who are geographically known as Tripuris. It is one of the State Languages of Tripura notified on January 19, 1979. The TTAADC has declared the Kokborok as official language of the TTAADC on April 20, 1999.

During the programme, the poets were felicitated on the occasion of the 38th celebration of ‘Kokborok Day’.

Keeping eye on the celebration of the 38th Foundation Day of Kokborok language, seminar, poet conference and quiz was also organized on January 18 at Dasharath Deb Stadium.

On this occasion, a rally has been organized which has initiated from the Umakanta Ground and walked all across the capital.

The State Government recognised the Kokborok as one of the official languages of the State with an enactment of Act in 1979.

The first Kokborok magazine ‘Kwtal Kothoma (New Story)’ was first edited and published in the year 1954 by Sudhanwa Dec Barma, who was one of the founder and first president of the so-called Tripura Janasiksha Samiti.

However, this language is the second official language of Tripura after Bengali, but is granted first status by the tribal areas autonomous district council, which has limited governing jurisdiction over three fourth of the State’s geographical area.