ITANAGAR, May 6: A three-day national workshop on “The Role of Devanagari Script in Tribal Language Writing of Arunachal Pradesh” commenced on Wednesday at Him International School, Jollang.
The workshop is being organised by the Central Hindi Directorate under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, in collaboration with the Donyi Polo Cultural and Charitable Trust, Itanagar.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr Joram Begi, Chief Advisor of the organizing trust, highlighted the historical evolution of scripts used in Tani languages. He noted that although the modified Roman script has been adopted for writing tribal languages of the Tani communities, it continues to face challenges in accurately representing the unique phonetic features of these languages. He emphasized that the scientific structure of the Devanagari script offers potential for better phonetic representation.
Dr Lisa Lomdak, Associate Professor at the Arunachal Institute of Tribal Studies, Rajiv Gandhi University, delivered an insightful presentation highlighting the efforts of the Council of Nyishi Language Research and Training in developing syllabi and textbooks for Nyibu Nyigam Yirko (the Gurukul system of schools in Arunachal). She underscored the importance of identifying and standardizing phonetic elements across different Nyishi-speaking regions.
In his address, Prof Hitendra Kumar Mishra assured support from the Central Hindi Directorate for incorporating new alphabets or symbols into the Devanagari script, if required, to represent the distinct sounds of Tani languages. Speaking also as Chairman of the Scientific and Technical Terminology Commission, he invited recommendations from local language experts for necessary script modifications.
Addressing the gathering, Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona appreciated the initiative and assured government support for meaningful outcomes. However, he cautioned against immediate implementation of Devanagari-based textbooks, noting that Roman script-based materials are already in use or under development. He emphasized the importance of careful coordination among stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition.
The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Robin Hissang, Principal of Government College, Seppa. The workshop also featured two technical sessions. Prof Tribhuwan Nath Shukla, retired professor of Jabalpur University, spoke on the origin and features of the Devanagari script, while Dr Giamnia Baki Garam presented on the limitations of the modified Roman script in capturing the phonetic nuances of Tani languages.
The workshop is expected to provide a significant platform for scholars, linguists, and policymakers to deliberate on script standardization and the future of tribal language writing systems in Arunachal Pradesh, contributing to the preservation and development of indigenous languages.