AGARTALA, May 22 (TIWN): The Bru’s on Sunday in press meet demanded for the recognition of the language as Bru as a separate language.

The Reangs, second largest tribal group in Tripura, are demanding formal recognition of their language Kai Bru as separate from Kokborok, the mainstream tribal language of the state.

Addressing the press meet president Pancaram Reang said that Bru community constitutes a total of 2.5 to 3 lakhs of people and their language is also different and don’t want merge them with the kokborok language.

Contrary to popular belief, we do not speak Kokborok. Our language called Kau Bru, it is different from Kokborok in many respects. Hence, we demand recognition of Kau Bru as a separate language by the state government

Reang said in the Tripura Official Language Act, 1964, only English and Bengali had been recognised and no place was given to Kokborok, which then lacked a script.

"After the Left Front came to power in 1978, Kokborok was recognised as an official language on January 19, 1979, by an amendment. At that time, the Reangs (Brus) had pointed out that their language was separate and distinct from Kokborok and demanded recognition for Kau Bru but this was not granted," he said.

"Most of the Reangs living in Kanchanpur subdivision of North Tripura, Ambassa and Gandacherra subdivision in Dhalai district and Santir Bazar subdivision in South Tripura find it difficult to speak Kokorok. The problem is most acute for Reang students in schools where Kokborok is the medium of instruction," said Reang.

He said that after the formation of the socio-cultural organisation in 2001, several representations were made to the state government but the demand for recognition of Kau Bru was not accepted.

He said Reangs started migrating to Mizoram for jhum (shifting) cultivation in the second half of the 19th century. "Brus or Reangs in Mizoram constitute the second largest community but their condition is far worse in socio-economic terms than in Tripura," Reang said.