Congress greets Tripura on Kokborok Day, hopes it fosters unity

January 19, 2026

New Delhi: The Congress on Monday extended warm greetings to the people of Tripura on the occasion of Kokborok Day, expressing hope that the celebration would strengthen unity and inspire pride in India’s diverse cultures and rich heritage.

Kokborok Day, also known as Tripuri Language Day, is observed every year on January 19 in the northeastern state of Tripura to promote, preserve and celebrate the Kokborok language. The day commemorates 1979, when Kokborok received official recognition from the Tripura government for the first time. This year marks the 46th anniversary of the observance.

Congress, Kharge Extend Greetings on Kokborok Day

Taking to social media platform X, the Congress said, “We extend our warm wishes to our sisters and brothers in Tripura on Kokborok Day. The day commemorates the initial recognition of Kokborok as an official language in 1979. May this day bring about unity and inspire pride in our diverse cultures and rich heritage.”

Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge also conveyed his greetings, highlighting the cultural and linguistic significance of Kokborok. “Warm greetings to the people of Tripura on the occasion of Kokborok Day. This special observance celebrates Kokborok — an ancient, culturally vibrant indigenous language spoken for millennia, and highlights the richness of India’s diversity and shared values,” Kharge posted.

Kokborok Day Marks 46 Years of Official Recognition

The annual observance aims to revive and strengthen the ancient language spoken for thousands of years by the indigenous Tripuri community. Over the years, Kokborok Day has become an important cultural event in Tripura, reflecting the state’s commitment to protecting its indigenous identity and linguistic heritage.

Ancient Tripuri Language Reflects Cultural Heritage

Kokborok, also known as Tripuri or Tiprakok, is the native language of Tripura and belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family of languages. The people are referred to as ‘Borok’, while the language is known as ‘Kok’. Earlier, the language was commonly called Tiprakok or Tripurikok.

Regarded as one of the classical indigenous languages of Northeast India, Kokborok is spoken by various Tripuri clans, including Debbarma, Kalai, Reang, Jamatia, Tripura, Noatia, Rupini, Murasing and Uchoi. Collectively, the speakers identify themselves as “Tripuris.” The language is also spoken in parts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh.

In recent years, Kokborok has emerged as one of the fastest-growing Tibeto-Burman languages in the region, symbolising the enduring cultural identity and shared heritage of the Tripuri people.