Itanagar, January 13: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has commended the Tagin community for adopting the Devanagari script for their language, describing the move as a significant step towards preserving the community’s linguistic and cultural heritage.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Khandu highlighted the crucial role that script selection plays in safeguarding indigenous languages, many of which are primarily oral and rich in unique sounds. He noted that accurate representation of these sounds is essential for preserving traditional knowledge, folklore, rituals, songs, and cultural practices for future generations.
The Chief Minister explained that the Devanagari script offers a strong advantage because of its phonetic nature, where each sound is represented by a distinct symbol. According to him, this “one sound, one symbol” system helps ensure correct pronunciation and faithful documentation of tribal languages, reducing the risk of distortion over time.
Khandu contrasted this with the Roman script, which was originally developed for European languages. He observed that Roman letters often struggle to accurately capture the nuanced sounds found in many tribal languages, leading to inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation. Such challenges, he said, can gradually weaken the authenticity and integrity of indigenous languages.
Praising the Tagin community’s decision, the Chief Minister described it as a thoughtful and forward-looking initiative that strikes a balance between cultural preservation and modern educational needs. He said the adoption of Devanagari could serve as a model for other tribal communities exploring ways to strengthen and preserve their linguistic traditions.
The Chief Minister’s remarks come amid ongoing discussions across Arunachal Pradesh and other tribal regions on the importance of language preservation and the role scripts play in maintaining the identity and originality of indigenous languages. The move by the Tagin community is being viewed as a meaningful effort to ensure the long-term survival and promotion of their language and cultural heritage.
