Kokborok literature

Kokborok(Tiprakok/Tripuri) is the native language of Tripuri people in present Tripura state in North East of India. During 20th centuries many of Royal family and its officials contributes to develop the Kokborok Language in many ways.

Historical record[]

A significant hint for the antiquity of the Kokborok language can be found in the following lines in the "Rajmala", the chronicle written now in Bengali of the Kings of Tripura, which mentions that "Rajmala" was first written in Kokborok(Tiprakok):

Purbe Rajmala chhilo Tripur bhashate,

Payar Gathilo sob sokole bhujhite,

Su-bhashate Dharmaraje Rajmala Koilo,

Rajmala boliya lockete hoilo."

- Rajmala - 2nd part, Dharma Manikya Chapter, page 6.

The meaning of the quotation is - the Rajmala had been in Tripur language earlier. As ordered by the king Dharma Manikya, the chronicle was translated or written afresh in elegant language, i.e., in Bengali in the 14th century AD.

Written period[]

Since the Rajmala was written there has been little written material in Kokborok and only since the end of the 19th century there has been some effort of writing the language in the written form. And from the second half of the 20th century only there has been a vigorous development process and activities for creating literature in Kokborok. The Tripura state Government had recognised Kokborok as a state language in 1979 only and since then important Govt. notifications are being published in Kokborok along with Bengali.

The development of Kokborok literature of the last century can be divided into the following periods:

Period-I[]

First effort for giving the language in printed book form and creation of literature of language

wrote the grammar of Kokborok named "" published in 1900 AD. Beside he wrote two other books "" and "". was the Kokborok-Bengali-English translation book published in 1906 AD. The "Traipur Bhasabidhan" was published in 1907.

was a contemporary of and was a pioneer of writing Kokborok Grammar jointly with Mohammad Omar. The Amar jantra, Comilla published his Kokborok grammar book "Kokbokma" in 1897 AD. The Education Gazette a renowned newspaper of that time made commendatory review on this book.

Period-II[]

Tripura Janasiksha Samiti and the Kwtal Kothoma

After the works of and , a disciple of a well known personality to the people of Tripura contributed to a compilation of 33 spiritual songs in Kokborok under title "" and published it in 1942 AD.

On 27 December 1945 AD the "Tripura Janasiksha Samiti" came into being and it established many schools in different areas of Tripura. The first Kokborok magazine "" was first edited and published in 1954 by Sudhanwa Debbarma, who was a founder of the Samiti. Folk songs, Folk tales and articles were published in this magazine. Some mention-worthy writers and their topics published serially in the magazine were:

a) "", a novel by Sudhanwa Debbarma.

b) "", collection of riddles in Kokborok.

c) "", a talk on Mahatma Gandhi by .

During this period there were some other persons and activists who played a vital role for development of the Kokborok language and literature. () became popular in Agartala town and rural areas for his composition of Holi (color festival) songs in Kokborok. he wrote many Kokborok poems, in 1948 AD, his "" a brief Kokborok grammar and translation book was published. was a renowned writer, vocalist and linguist. He wrote two books "" and "" published in 1954 and 1962 AD respectively. was a renowned man of literature and a journalist and is remembered for his innumerable writings and articles in newspapers. His book "" (Bagsa and Bagnui) was published in 1963 AD and "" a Kokborok dictionary was published in 1967 AD. published his textbook for children "" in 1958 AD. was the founder of the "Kokborok Sahitya Sabha", he wrote a lot of books and plays, among those "" was performed in 1972. composed songs in the 1950s and published them under the title "". Books such as "", "" and "" were also published by the State Education Department.

Period-III[]

Movement for development of Kokborok language and creation of Kokborok literature in later parts of 1960s and 1970s

This part of the century witnessed a nationalistic movement led by the Twipra Students Federation, two organisations came into being in this period which extended mentionable help in the progress of development of Kokborok literature and culture, "" was established under in 1967 AD. This organisation brought published a book "" in 1972 AD. The other organisation was " founded by and with this organisation published a book on Tripuri philosophy " in 1967 AD and "" in 1973 AD, the latter was published by the .

"" a collection of seventeen Kokborok songs by , "" written in Roman script by in 1977 and "" by in 1978 were some of the notable publication of the 1970s.

Smai Kwtal[]

But the biggest and greatest Kokborok literary work of this century was the "", the New Testament of the Bible in Kokborok language, published in 1976 AD by the Bible Society of India. The "Smai Kwtal" benchmarked all other works in the coming years and was the first popular literature to have seen the day-to-day use among the Tripuri community. It has gone through many reprints and revisions and is still always in demand due to which there is always a shortage in prints of the book.

Period-IV[]

1980s focus of movement for Kokborok literature

In consequence of the education thrust by the "Tripura Janasiksha Samiti" and the literary organisations many educated Tripuri's became aware of their social obligation, and there has been a speedy flow in Kokborok literary movement and Kokborok was on way to be recognised as having a developed language and literature. The publication of Kokborok literature of different branches in this decade were:

Novels[]

"" (In the lap of Hills) by Sudhanwa Debbarma is the first modern Kokborok novel. It was published by the Kokborok Sahitya Sabha and Snskriti Samsad in 1987 AD. Also "" (In search of above) by was published serially in Lama a literary magazine.

Short stories[]

a compilation of 12 short stories by in 1984 and also in 1987 edited by him. a compilation of four stories by in 1987. a compilation of eight stories by in 1989.

Poetry[]

(A collection of poems) in 1983 edited by and ; (Flower of stone on a crematorium) in 1984 by Nanda Kumar Deb Barma; (collection of poems and rhymes) in 1983 and by . (Songs of the masses) by in 1984. (Red Soil) 1983 and 1988 and also in 1986 and by . 1986 and 1986 also 1987 by . by 1988. by 1988. by . by 1988 and by 1988.

Other[]

1980 by and some of the translated books were by nanda Kumar Deb Barma 1988, and in 1987 by also by . Also many literary magazines were popular in this decade such as Lama of the Tripura Upajati Ganamukti Parishad, Chati of and Dangdu of Tripura Rajya Kokborok Sahitya Sabha.

Period-V[]

Last decade of the 20th century - Adolescence of Kokborok literature

Kokborok literature of different branches published in this decade deserved appreciation and compliment for their literary quality and standard. The publications are:

Novel[]

(In the lap of Hills), 2nd part,1994 by Sudhanwa Debbarma. in 1996 by .

Short stories[]

Belonia, 1994 by Nagendra Jamatia, 1994 and 1997 and 2000 by Snehamoy Roy Choudhury, 1996 and 2000 by , 1998 by , and . 2000 by , 200 by and 1998 by and .

Poetry[]

and 2000 by Nanda Kumar Deb Barma, 1991 and 1995 by , 1992 by , 1995 by Kokborok tei Hukumu Mission, 1996 by , 1997 and 200 by , 1998 by , 1998 by , 1999 and 1999 by , 2000 by and 2000 by .

Others[]

Some of the translation books were 1992 by , 1997 by and (Psalms) by Tripura Baptist Christian Union. Other prominent books are 1995 by , 1996 by , 1994 by Kokborok tei Hukumu Mission, 1994 by , Mahatma Gandhi 1995 by , 1996 by Nitai Acharjee, 1997 by , 1997 by and 1999 by .

21st century[]

A new dawn in Kokborok literature

The new century started with glittering hope for the language with publications of Kokborok Dictionary and the History Chronicle of the Tripura Kingdom, Rajmala, in Kokborok. ^[1]

Dictionary[]

The 21st century began for Kokborok literature with the monumental work, the compiled by and published in 2002 A.D. by the Kokborok tei Hukumu Mission. This is the 2nd edition of his previous ground breaking dictionary published in 1996 and is a trilingual dictionary.

A concise also by was published in 2001 by the Language Wing, Education Department of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council, Khumulwng.

General[]

(The Rajmala - History of Tripura) translated by R.K Debbarma and published in 2002 AD by KOHM. 2001 by also by KOHM, (The Borok herbal medicine) 2002, Bubagratang (Rajmala) in 2009 by Atul Debbarma, Mao Tse Tung in 2014 by Shyamlal Debbarma, Bugrakotor Alekjanser in 2014 by Rabindra Kishore Debbarma.

Novels[]

Rung (2001) by Nanda Kumar Debbarma, Mwnakni Pohor (2002) by Kunjabehari Debbarma, Langmani Rukungo (2003) by Sunil Debbarma, 1980 (2006) by Atul Debbarma, Tongthai Naitugwi (2007) by Shyamlal Debbarma, 2008 by , KOHM and Lokhopoti (2010) by Sefali Debbarma.n

Short stories[]

Jalai Tokpupu (2000) by Haripad Debbarma, Basulam (2001) and Mo salni pohoro(2003)by Kunjabihari Debbarma, 2001 by , 2002 by , 2002 by , Hachukni Muktwi (2002)by Rabindra Kishore Debbarma, 2004, Toksa Hakaya (2006) by Atul Debbarma, 2007,Kothomani Hayung (2010) by Gopal Debbarma, 2011 by , Busu (2000) by Sunil Debbarma, Khumpui Barrwrwk Twiyung Torrwrwk (2014) and Hatal Khamchuru Bahai (2014) by Sefali Debbarma.

Poetry[]

2002 by , 2006 by , 2006 by , 2006 by , 2006 compiled by , 2010 by , 2011 and 2012 by , 2012 by .

Christian[]

The world's best selling book of the 21st century, the Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren was published in the language in 2008. It was translated by L.N Siama and published by the North East India Harvest Network, Shillong.

Baibel Kwthar[]

The full Holy Bible in Kokborok language was finally published for the first time in the year 2013 by the Bible Society of India after the earlier publication of the New Testament in Kokborok called the in 1976.^[2]

The translation team of the Bible from the Tripura Baptist Christian Union (TBCU) were:

1. Rev. Jong Bahadur Debbarma, CBA (who was also part of the previous Smai Kwtal translation team)
2. Rev. Anil Debbarma, CBA
3. Rev. Nilmani Debbarma, SNBA
4. Mr. Mark Debbarma, CBA

is currently the largest work and biggest book published in the language with more than 1,300 pages and is now the benchmark for publications in the language.

Translated Works[]

The Language Wing of the Tripura Tribal Autonomous Districts Council (TTAADC), Khumulwng has been instrumental in bringing out major translated works of books in other languages in Kokborok. Some of the major translations are Veniceni Baniyasa (2007) by Jasuda Reang of Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, Gura (2007) by Laxmidhan Murasing of Gora by Rabindranath Tagore, Srikanta Part - I of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay (2009) by Shyamlal Debbarma, Robinson Crusoe in Kokborok (2009) by Purna Chandra Debbarma, Boltayerni Kandid (A translation of Candide of Voltaire in Kokborok) (2014) by Santosh Debbarma, Somerset Momni Kothomarok (2014) by Suprava Debbarma, etc

Compilations[]

The new century saw publishing of many compilations of works of Kokborok authors of various genres of poetry, drama, short stories, essays and folk tales in single volumes such as:- An Anthology of Kokborok Poems (2009) by Binoy Debbarma, Rangbwtang (2011) by Dipankar Chakraborty, Surang (2014) and Suri (2015) by Suranjan Kundu Choudhury, Thungnuk Bwchap (2015) by Nanda Kumar Debbarma.

Post-Modern Period-VI[]

Present[]

The present trend of development of the Kokborok literary works show that the Kokborok literature is moving forward slowly but steadily with its vivacity and distinctive originality to touch the rich literature of the rich languages.^[3]

See also[]

• Tripuri people

References[]

Bibliography[]

• Kokborok Literature - A century's development, by N.C. Deb Barma, "Tui" Magazine, Tribal research Institute, Agartala.
• Tripura-e Kokborok Chorcha, by Ramprasad Dutta.

External links[]

• www.kokborok.org Kokborok Literature website