Ranglong leaders urge Tripura CM Dr Manik Saha to save their dying language
Agartala Aug 29: Lalchi thoruo Tripura rama na Chief Minister koma, na Ranglong nina ruia andonruo khop dingmuna atun nei om, hanuk chu na Ranglong chong le la anpei biang rang dingmuna nei om ata a na ‘ndam pe le ana rungpui ranga anthemna liankhit na don . These Ranglong words send a powerful message urging for preservation of critically endangered Ranglong language.
Notably, Ranglong (recorded as Langrong) language is one of the country’s 42 critically endangered language declared by the UNESCO.
When translated, the above Ranglong words highlight a sincere appeal to Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha by the community of the State urging him to address the identity crisis of the Ranglong tribe and the urgent issue of preserving their language, now on the verge of extinction.
The appeal was made during a press conference in Agartala today attended by Reuben Ranglong Namlusi (Pradhan Samajpati), Ralngamring Ranglong Vice President (Ranglong Youth Association (RYA), C. Ranglong, Member of Ranglong Customary Council, Paul Robert Ranglong, Youth Leaders (RYA).
The community leaders hailed the central government for allocating Rs 13 lakh for research and seminars on indigenous languages in Tripura.
“We earnestly appeal to the concerned authorities to ensure that the Ranglong language is consistently included and supported within the allocated funds by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, as the Ranglong language is being recorded as a critically endangered language in Tripura”, Ranglong leaders said focusing on urgent need for steps to preserve the language.
Expressing gratitude to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, for its efforts to preserve India’s critically endangered languages, the leaders lamented even as the “Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages (SPPEL),” initiated in 2013 by the Ministry of Education under the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) in Mysore, identified 117 such languages, including Ranglong, no effective long-term steps were taken to preserve the Ranglong language through consistent publications, research, and seminars.
“Let the present-day situation of the Ranglong language and its future enter public discourse to grab the attention of the stakeholders to take steps for its preservation”, leaders said.
Historically, the Ranglong language may be unfamiliar to younger generations, but it was documented by Dr. George Abraham Grierson during the All-India Linguistic Survey of 1898, where it was among 364 languages studied, with 6,266 speakers recorded.
The leaders highlighted another major issue and alleged identity crisis is plaguing the Ranglong community as they are recognized differently across states—as Halam and Tripuri in Tripura, Kuki Tribes in Assam, and Mizo Tribes in Mizoram. This fragmented recognition threatens their distinct tribal identity.
“The community, historically documented in the Census of India (1901, 1951, 1961) and the Linguistic Survey of 1898 by Dr. George Abraham Grierson (with 6,266 speakers recorded), feels its heritage is being eroded”.
Highlighting the plights of the Ranglong tribe, leaders said, “We have full faith in the dynamic leadership of Prof. (Dr) Manik Saha, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tripura, to address both the identity concerns of the Ranglong tribe and the urgent issue of preserving our language, now on the verge of extinction.
We also request the Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Tripura—being the Nodal Department for tribal issues—to take necessary steps to ensure recognition and preservation of the Ranglong people, who remain a microscopic yet distinct minority tribe of the state”.
