In a landmark move to preserve and promote indigenous culture, the Tripura government has announced that the Chakma language will soon be integrated into Google Translate, enabling translations into English, Hindi, and Bengali. The decision was revealed by State Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath following a meeting of the advisory committee on Chakma language development.

The committee has already compiled 50,000 Chakma words, with an additional 50,000 words set to be identified soon. These will be incorporated into Google Translate, allowing tribal content in Chakma to be converted into widely spoken languages.

This initiative mirrors the earlier inclusion of Kokborok, the mother tongue of the Tripuri community, into the platform.

Chakma language and script day

To further reinforce cultural identity, the state government declared that August 7 will be observed every year as Chakma Language and Script Day, beginning in 2026.

According to the 2011 Census, Tripura is home to 79,000 Chakma’s, one of the 19 recognised tribes of the state. Their population has since grown to approximately 1.2 lakh.

Currently, the Chakma language is taught in 123 government schools, where over 4,000 students from Classes I to VIII are enrolled.

Strengthening preservation efforts

The advisory committee also announced the formation of nine sub-committees, each tasked with promoting and developing various aspects of the Chakma language and culture.

Minister Ratan Lal Nath emphasised that the initiative would not only safeguard Chakma linguistic heritage but also make the language more accessible to researchers, translators, and the younger generation.

“This move ensures that the Chakma language is preserved, promoted, and made relevant in today’s digital age,” Nath stated.

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