Common script mooted for Arunachal tribes

ITANAGAR, April 11: Arunachal Pradesh Education Minister Dera Natung has said efforts will be made to develop a script for all tribes of the State, reports PTI. Speaking at a meeting where 'Tani Lipi,' a script developed by a senior government officer and linguist, Tony Koyu, was introduced, Natung said on Monday it was a memorable occasion that the State was inching towards a common State language. The Minister recommended that the meeting pass a resolution adopting Tani Lipi for all tribes of the State not having a script of their own, 'subject to the willingness of each respective tribe.' He also suggested to form the Arunachal Script and Language Development Society with the sole aim of developing Tani Lipi for all the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. The participants, including academicians and intellectuals, endorsed the two recommendations. The proposed committee would be headed by Natung himself while the respective official Tony Koyu, who introduced the script, would be the member secretary. Earlier, while introducing the Tani Lipi, 'aimed at developing a State language,' Koyu said it has been tested as scientific script, specially developed for the tribals keeping intact the phonetics which was not possible by Roman and Dev Nagari scripts. There was no script for the descendants of 'Abo Tani,' the legendary forefather of Tani group who comprised 80 per cent of the population. Koya said he had spent several years to develop the script.