Reviving the Chakma Script: A Journey of Rediscovery and Cultural Preservation

Tamiya Chakma

For years, I had no idea that the Chakma alphabet existed. Growing up, my family never mentioned it, and it wasn’t part of my school curriculum. Like many others in the Chakma community, I communicated primarily through Bangla and English. It wasn’t until the end of high school that I came across the Chakma alphabet for the first time—on Facebook, of all places.

The sight of those unfamiliar yet beautiful letters left me stunned. How could I, a member of the Chakma community, be completely unaware of something so integral to my heritage? What shocked me even more wasn’t just my own ignorance but the realization that this was a shared experience among many in our community. The absence of our script had become so normalized that even having our own alphabet seemed like a forgotten fact of history. This quiet erasure of our identity felt deeply unsettling.

That moment sparked a journey of reflection and curiosity: Why had the Chakma script faded from our lives? What role did it play in our cultural identity? And most importantly, how could we reclaim it?

A Childhood of Words, but Not Letters

In the Chakma community, it is rare for families to use languages other than Chakma in daily conversations. Naturally, Chakma became my first language. From an early age, I spoke it fluently, absorbing its rhythm and nuances through daily interactions with family and neighbours. Alongside Chakma, however, I was also exposed to Bangla and English.

One of my earliest memories is sitting with my father late at night, watching Hollywood horror movies. I must have been around 3 or 4 years old, and although the movies were in English, I absorbed the language without fully understanding it. At the same time, I practiced writing Bangla and English, often under my grandfather’s strict supervision. I vividly recall how he would scold me—and even beat me—if I miswrote the names of fishes in English.

Looking back, it strikes me as strange that so much effort went into teaching me how to read and write in those two languages, but never once was I encouraged to write in my mother tongue Chakma. It was as if the Chakma script didn’t exist in their minds. While they ensured I mastered the tools of dominant languages, our own writing system was never even mentioned. At the time, I didn’t question it; it felt normal. But now, I realize how this absence silently distanced me—and many others—from a vital part of our cultural identity.

The Moment of Realization

Despite these realizations about the Chakma script, the guilt didn’t weigh on me immediately. I continued my days, acknowledging the issue but not feeling its full gravity. Then, in 2019 or 2020, something remarkable happened: someone integrated the Chakma alphabet into the Ridmik keyboard app. Curious, I downloaded it, only to realize I couldn’t understand a single letter. The shapes were foreign to me, but seeing the script on my phone still brought an unexpected warmth. Perhaps it’s a universal truth—every human feels a special attachment to their roots, even when they seem distant.

The irony of my situation became more apparent when I got into university to study English Language and Literature. From a young age, I had a knack for English. I barely studied for English exams, and yet always managed to pass with ease. It felt like second nature, but everything changed during my second year, second term, in a sessional viva for the course English Phonetics and Phonology.

The Professors of the course were conducting the viva when one of them asked me, “Do you know anything about the Chakma language—its diphthongs, monophthongs, or phonemic transcriptions?” I froze. All I could answer was, “Sir, I only know how to speak it; beyond that, I know nothing.”

That day, as a student of language and literature, the guilt hit me harder than ever. How could I delve so deeply into understanding English phonology while knowing nothing of the linguistic structure of my first language? But then another question arose in my mind: Is it entirely my fault?

Challenges of Preserving the Script

The Chakma script, like many endangered writing systems, faces a constant struggle for survival due to a lack of awareness within the Chakma community. Despite fluently speaking the language, many remain unfamiliar with its written form—a result of historical, cultural shifts, and systemic neglect. The dominance of languages like Bengali and English, central to education and communication, has pushed the Chakma script out of formal spaces.

Modernization and the rise of digital communication further marginalize the script, while cultural assimilation into urban and academic settings makes it irrelevant in daily life. These challenges threaten the script’s continued existence and its connection to the community.

Why This Matters

The Chakma script is more than just a collection of letters; it is a vessel carrying the stories, history, and identity of a community. Losing it would mean severing a vital link to the past and weakening the cultural fabric that defines the Chakma people. At a time when globalization and modernization are eroding smaller cultures, preserving the script becomes an act of resistance against cultural erasure.

Language is one of the strongest markers of identity, and a script gives that language permanence. Without the Chakma script, the language remains vulnerable to distortion or even extinction over time. The absence of writing limits the language’s ability to evolve with modern needs, from digital representation to academic study. Preserving the script ensures that the language can thrive in both cultural and practical domains.

Moreover, the neglect of the Chakma script reflects broader systemic challenges. The dominance of mainstream languages like Bengali and English has created a hierarchy where indigenous languages and scripts are seen as less relevant. Challenging this hierarchy is crucial for fostering a more inclusive society where all languages and cultures are valued equally.

But why should this matter to the younger generation? Because the Chakma script is a bridge to understanding who we are. For those who have grown up without it, rediscovering the script can rekindle a sense of pride and belonging. It can transform guilt into action, inspiring individuals to reclaim their heritage and share it with others.

Preserving the Chakma script also contributes to the global tapestry of linguistic diversity, reminding the world of the value of minority languages and their unique worldviews. In an era when many indigenous scripts and languages are disappearing, saving one is a testament to the resilience of cultural identity and a refusal to let history be rewritten by neglect.

 

The Chakma Script is not merely a set of characters; it is a vital link to our heritage, identity, and cultural history. The gradual disappearance of this script reflects broader societal challenges—cultural assimilation, globalization, and systemic neglect—yet it is not too late to reverse this trend. Through educational reforms, community-driven initiatives, technological advancements, and active preservation efforts, we can breathe new life into the Chakma script. This revival is not just about preserving a writing system; it is about reclaiming a fundamental part of who we are. By ensuring the Chakma script thrives, we honor our past, strengthen our cultural identity, and contribute to the rich diversity of languages and scripts in the world. The time to act is now, for the future generations who deserve to know and celebrate their roots.