Agartala: A wave of protests, spearheaded by the Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF), has brought the Assam-Agartala National Highway to a standstill, plunging the region into chaos.
The student body’s indefinite strike, triggered by a demand for Kokborok language examinations to be administered in Roman script rather than the currently mandated Bengali script, has resulted in widespread road blockades across Agartala.
This action has effectively severed a vital artery of transportation, inflicting substantial hardship on commuters, students, and critically, patients requiring urgent medical care.
“Why are we denied the right to write and learn in our preferred Roman script? We are citizens of Tripura too, possessing our own unique language and the Roman script, so why this denial? I challenge the state government to explain their disregard for the students’ future,” passionately stated Karan Jamatia, President of Khumlung College Community TSF. The core grievance of the protesters stems from the perceived disconnect between the educational backgrounds of many students, who are primarily educated in English-medium schools, and the script used in the Kokborok examinations. They argue that their familiarity with Roman script renders the Bengali script a significant impediment to their academic performance.
Soniya Debbarma, a participant in the protest, articulated, “Our sole demand is the adoption of the Roman script. The reality in Tripura is that a substantial number of students are enrolled in English-medium institutions, cultivating a foundational understanding of English from their formative years. Consequently, the imposition of Bengali script in the Kokborok language examinations presents a formidable challenge for those unfamiliar with it.”
The ramifications of the blockade are far-reaching, impacting the daily lives of residents and travellers alike. Emergency medical services have been severely hampered, with ambulances struggling to navigate the gridlock and reach hospitals. Parents have expressed deep concern over their inability to transport their children to schools, while truck drivers find themselves stranded, lacking access to essential provisions.
“We have been marooned in this traffic congestion since yesterday. Food supplies are dwindling, and our situation has deteriorated significantly. The absence of nearby hotels and the inability to cook have left us in a precarious position for two days,” lamented Sahajan Majumdar, a truck driver caught in the disruption. The mounting frustration among local residents is palpable. Rakesh Laha, a local inhabitant, voiced his disapproval, stating, “This form of protest is utterly unacceptable. Patients are suffering because they cannot reach hospitals in time. They have blocked the Assam-Agartala road, a lifeline for our state, and ambulances are trapped. There are more responsible ways to voice grievances that do not inflict such hardship on others.”
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