The year 1981, myself entered in the Kokborok literary circle. It has been surprised and upset by seeing the condition of the Kokborok literature. Having been in association with Kokborok literary personalities of that time, there are lots of scope to work out and make in order to the Kokborok folk and modern literature which are existed with rich terms and conditions which were ignored.
Taking of long 12 years, a group of enthusiastic Kokborok speaking people had gathered and constituted the KOKBOROK TEI HUKUMU MISSION on 10 August 1993 and it has got registration in 1994. A series of meeting was took place for steping up in this arena.
By the grace of almighty God, we have achieved land mark pioneering discoveries of more than 6 sections of the Kokborok literature, culture and history. These are the Spelling method of the Kokborok, the Counting method of the Kokborok, the names of the children in Kokborok, introduction of the Rimai – a symbol of pride of the Tipra people, re-introduction of the Tipra Era and the finalization of the proper nomenclature of the indigenous people of Tripura.
1. The Kokborok Spelling Method
The KOKBOROK TEI HUKUMU MISSION had taken initiative to fix up a standard spelling method to create literature with proper spelling method which is now-a-days following in all their writing by the peots, writers, scholars, students and institutes upto the university level.
The specific spelling method was created for writing Bible in Kokborok in the year 1972. For the first time it has been properly followed by the KOKBOROK TEI HUKUMU MISSION through numerous publications of book every year since its formation.
Though the statistics shows that writing Kokborok in Roman script was started by Sir A. Phayre in the year 1841 AD. So, the tradition of writing Kokborok in Roman script had existed centuries. Therefore it is not at all remained Roman script but it became the Kokborok alphabets of Roman script as well.
In true sense, the books produced by the KOKBOROK TEI HUKUMU MISSION in last 25 years had made a dimension in regard to spelling of a particular vocabulary through the dictionaries. For an example, we have three Kokborok words having similar sound but different in meanings with separate origin and etymology. These words are the Knee, Elbow and Nail are all normally pronounced as Yasku, Yasku & Yasku. Those had been coincided in the spelling as the Yasku, Yaksku and Yasiku maintaining its origin and etymology.
2. The Kokborok Counting Method
Another most important section which is made in order was the Kokborok Counting Method.
In the decades of eighties, the Kokborok counting method was adopted in the form of decimal system. It has been coincided by putting the Chi figure i.e. Ten before Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight and Nine to count the Twenty, Thirty, Forty, Fifty, Sixty, Seventy, Eighty & Ninety. As a result, it has counting in the way of Two ten is Nwichi, Three ten-Thamchi, Four ten-Brwichi, Five ten-Bachi, Six ten-Dokchi, Seven ten-Snichi, Eight ten-Charchi and Nine ten-Chukuchi.
It has pronouncing the counting of two figure of Nwi & chi – Nwichi, Tham & chi – Thamchi, Brwi & chi – Brwichi, Ba & chi – Bachi, Dok & chi – Dokchi, Sni & chi – Snichi, Char & chi – Charchi, Chuku & chi – Chukuchi but it is not the compact form for which it has made single term of English counting figures like the Twenty, Thirty, Forty, Fifty, Sixty, Seventy, Eighty & Ninety.
There was also twenty unit counting system in the Kokborok. In this Twenty or Khol system, 30(Thirty) is counting as 20+10 i.e. Khol+Chi=Kholchi. It has denoting ten time of Khol or Twenty i.e. 200(Two hundred) but it is not exactly Thirty.
The counting of 30(Thirty) as Kholpechi would lead to count 31(thirty one) as Kholpechisa have a problem as the Kholpechisa denotes the 30(Thirty) itself because it is one time of Kholpechi. Accordingly the 32(thirty two) would not be Kholpechinwi because if we do not put Pe for nutrilizing in between Kholpechi & Nwi it will multiple and counting figure would be two time of Kholpechi or thirty i.e. 60(Sixty) but not 32(Thirty two).
On the other hand, Forty is Kholnwi i.e. two time of twenty according to the Khol based counting system. The Kholnwisa would not be Forty one but it is one time of Kholnwi i.e. Forty itself. The same thing would be happened if we do not put Pe for nutrilizing in between Kholnwi and Nwi i.e. the Kholnwinwi will be 80(Eighty) but not 42(Forty two).
The 50(Fifty) is counted as Kholnwichi i.e. two time of twenty plus Ten and the actual meaning of Kholnwichi would be ten time of Forty i.e. 400(Four hundred).
Therefore, the Khol or Twenty unit counting in Kokborok must be avoided for maintaining the scientific counting in Kokborok. The Khol term in particular must be remained in Kokborok as synonym of Twenty term only.
Looking into the incomplete shape of compact counting figures, we have adopted the “Pe” from the traditional counting method of Kokborok where it has putting “Pe” with the Khol i.e. Twenty unit for counting the 21(Twentyone) to 30(Thirty) figures.
It has been accepted by putting the “Pe” with the Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight & Nine for counting the Twenty, Thirty, Forty, Fifty, Sixty, Seventy, Eighty & Ninety in Kokborok having Chi silence between counting unit figures & Pe will stand like these:
English Previous terms Adopted Kokborok term
20 – Twenty Nwichi Nwipe
30 – Thirty Thamchi Thampe
40 – Forty Brwichi Brwipe
50 – Fifty Bachi Bape
60 – Sixty Dokchi Dokpe
70 – Seventy Snichi Snipe
80 – Eighty Charchi Charpe
90 – Ninety Chukuchi Chukupe
After the new counting method adopted would be like these.
Indian Counting Units
1 One Sa
10 Ten Chi
100 Hundred Ra
1,000 Thousand Sai
10,000 Ojut Thwlwng
100,000 Lakh Rwbam
1,000,000 Nijut Burung
10,000,000 Crore Rwjag
European Counting Units
1 One Sa
10 Ten Chi
100 Hundred Ra
1,000 Thousand Sai
1,000,000 Million Burung
100,000,000 Billion Hayung
1,000,000,000,000 Trillion(French & USA) Nokhayung
1,000,000,000,000,000,000 Trillion (UK & Germany) Nokhayung
3. The name of the children in Kokborok
A shoking matter in regard to non-Kokborok names among the Kokborok speaking people was took place having more than ninety five percent. It was really very difficult to recognize the actual physical figure of the Kokborok speakers belongs to which human race and their language.
Campaign started for naming the Kokborok speaking children in Kokborok terms. A small but land mark book was published in 1994 on the title, “Nwng Borokde? Hwnkhe, Nini mani kokbo Kokborokno wngnai. Phaidikhe, Chini Sa-twirokni mungbo Kokborok baino pharlaisinw”. Later, it was renamed as “Kokborok Bai Mung Pharjabaidi”. The idea and first book was sponsored by our member Mg. Karuna Nidhan Debbarma.
It was containing more than 1500 Kokborok vocabulary in alphabetical order. Surprisingly, the response of Kokborok speaking Tipra people was amazing that now-a-days, the name of the children having modern and sweet Kokborok terms created by the parents for naming their kids became a normal practice.
4. Risa & Rimai – a symbol of pride of the Tipra people
Risa & Rimai was abandoned for modernization of the Tipra women’s traditional dresses. As a result, Risa & Rimai was not produced because it was not commonly in uses. The designs created in the Risa & Rimai are so beautiful and unique that very least people could make it in this region. Thousands of design crafted in the Risa & Rimai which are now discovered throught this initiative by the Tipra people.
Looking into the importance of the Risa & Rimai to be preserved, the KOKBOROK TEI HUKUMU MISSION has decided in their 33rd meeting held on 07. 11. 1995 to rejuvenate the Risa & Rimai. The decision was taken up while preparing to meet His Excellency Governor of Tripura to offer the Rimai.
It is to know that when a Tipra lady wearing to cover their breast only that time will be called Risa but wearing at neck by both men & women will be called Rimai. The term Rimai is also existed in Dimasa language of NC Hills, Assam which is very close to the Kokborok.
It has also decided to receive the dignitaries in any program by offering Rimai. All KOHM members will wear Rimai in neck specially in all their programs.
One of our KOHM member Mg. Braja Kishore Debbarma started production and supply for sales at shop first ever opened at Agartala namely Rignai Choice at Bidhur Karta Choumohani in the decades of nineties.
5. Re-introduction of the Tipra Era
We all know that how the Tipra Era was re-introduced. It was 1991, the TTSCDO has organized a seminar in regard to Tipra Era held at the Hall of Tripura Public Service Commission, Agartala. All data was collected by the Chethuang Literary Group from the different sources and distinguished persons. The Chethuang Literary Group was converted to the KOKBOROK TEI HUKUMU MISSION in 1993.
A book namely “The Historical Background of Tipra Era” was published by kokborok tei hukumu mission in the year 1994. Since than the KOHM had published numbers of booklet for the queries and confusions arises through different writings. It has also publishing Tipra Era calendar every year in colorful format reflecting the historical and cultural picture of the Tipra kings and the people as well.
It must be noted that the celebrstion State Level Tipra Era New Year Festival is taking place every year in befitting manner in scheduled venues where lakhs of people participated in festive mood. The State Level Tipra Era New Year celebration is organizing by the MOVEMENT FOR KOKBOROK since 2004 where all walks of people gathered for remembering the glorious history of the Tipra Kingdom.
6. The proper nomenclature of the Indigenous people of Tripura
A proper nomenclature of the Kokborok speaking and other indigenous people of Tripura was scattered. It has a long way to go backward for understanding the causes and reasons how it was happened.
The whole matter of confusion on Tipra term was an active initiative to destroy and dominate the Tipra people. The Tipra term to pronounce and write in different pronunciation and spelling was took place in different times like the Troipur, Tipperah, Tipura and Tripura by the non-Tipra writers.
1. Kokborok was written a Troipur language
Tipra king Dormo Manikya during his reign 1431-1462 AD engaged two priests and court-poets Shukreswar and Baneshawar Chakraborty to compile Sri Rajratnakaram in Sanskrit in the year 1458 AD. They had collected materials from Durlobendra Chontai which was spoken in Tipra language and is mentioned as Troipur language in the verse 23 of first chapter. It is written as “Abang Chontayibochonong Shrutta Praho Noradipo, Oshthu Guhyotomong Tabodbruhi Troipur-Bhashaya. 1/23.
Here, it may be noted that Tipra was pronounced and written as Troipur in Sanskrit style of pronunciation by the Shukreshwar and Baneshawar in Sri Rajratnakaram.
It was also said that chronicle was written in own script of Kokborok which is popularly known as Koloma. This script was used by the Tipra royal priests in different ways in their traditional ritual practices.
2. Tipra was written as Tipperah
In the later period, the foreign scholars wrote books by incorporating Tipra vocabulary and some stories mentioning Tipperah in their own style of pronunciation of Tipra during the years 1841 to 1902 AD. They were Sir A. Phayre, H. C. Sutherland, T. H. Lewin, Sir W. W. Hunter, Rev. S. Endle, Sir G. Campbell, J. D. Anderson.
3. Tipra was also written as Tipura
Tipra term was written as Tipura by G. A. Grierson in his pioneering compilation titled Linguistic Survey of India. It is seen in Vol III, Tibeto-Burman Family, Part II, Specimens of the Bodo-Naga & Kachin Groups.
4. Tipra is written as Tripura
Tipra kingdom was named after the Tripur king which was mentioned in the chronicle of Tipra royal dynasty titled Sri Rajmala compiled by Kailash Chandra Singha published in the year 1896 AD. Tipra term was bengalized as Tripura during this period. It was the full bloom of bengalization to the Tipra people that more than ninety five percent name of persons converted in Bengali terms. Besides this, thousand of name of ancient places were changed from Kokborok to Bengali terms in large scale during the decades of fifties and sixties when the land survey was done in the state.
5. Proper nomenclature of Kokborok speaking and other indigenous people of Tripura
Denoting the Kokborok speaking and other indigenous people as Tipra term is clearly mentioned in the Tavernier’s Travells, by J. Philips, Book III, Part II, Chapter XVI, Of the Kingdom of Tipra when he travelled in the year 1640 AD. It was quoted in the travelling note of Tavernier.
Tipra was the peoper term which has been mentioned by K. D. Menon, IAS, State Editor of Tripura District Gazetteers, Chapter-I, General: Introduction, Origin of the name of the District, Page-1, published in 1975.
Two day seminar on proper nomenclature of the indigenous people of Tripura
To make in order of the proper nomenclature of the indigenous people of Tripura, we have organized a two day seminar in this regard in collaboration of the MOVEMENT FOR KOKBOROK inviting all walks of peoples like Intellectuals, Writers, Poets, Organizations based on the Historical, Lingo-Cultural, Students and Socio-Political etc. which was held on 25-26 July 2016 at Matangini-Pritilata Auditorium, Women’s College, Agartala.
Finally, in presence of His Highness King of Tripura, Maharaja Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, a meeting was held on 10 December 2017 at Khasrang Nok, Residential compound of Mg. Binoy Debbarma, Debbarma Kami, Sonaram VC, Sidhai, Mohanpur, West District, Tripura with the Head of Hodas and Social Organizations in regard to common identity of the indigenous people of Tripura which was jointly organized by KOHM & MFK.
It has been unanimously decided to be called the indigenous people of Tripura as TIPRA having been references available.
Later, the KOHM have published a book titled “The Tipra – a common identity of the indigenous people of Tripura” in the year 2018.
Therefore the confusion in regard to our identity is solved through the tireless endevour rendered by the members of KOHM and MFK.
Those are the 6 pioneering works done by the KOKBOROK TEI HUKUMU MISSION during last 25 years that must be remembered and appreciated by Tipra people.