Agartala, January 26, 2025: Naresh Chandra Debbarma of Tripura has been conferred with the Padma Shri Award 2026 under the Unsung Heroes category in recognition of his distinguished and selfless service in the fields of Literature and Education.

The prestigious civilian award was announced on the eve of Republic Day 2026.

Debbarma has been honoured for his lifelong commitment to the promotion and development of Tripura’s indigenous Kokborok language. A prolific writer, he has authored around 30 books in Kokborok, significantly enriching the language’s literary corpus and preserving its cultural heritage for future generations. Beyond his literary contributions, Debbarma has remained actively engaged in academic and cultural forums related to Kokborok. He has consistently participated in discussions and seminars focusing on the language’s growth, standardisation, and wider acceptance in educational and cultural spaces.

He is also known for his advocacy regarding the script of Kokborok Bangla or Devanagari scripts supporting the use of either to ensure greater accessibility and institutional recognition of the language.

Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, MP Biplab Kumar Deb, MP Rajib Bhattacharjee, council of ministers and others congratulated Jamatia.