Tripura’s Pride Naresh Chandra Dev Varma Receives Padma Shri from President Droupadi Murmu

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, June 23, 2026

In a moment of immense pride for Tripura and the indigenous Kokborok-speaking community, renowned Kokborok litterateur, linguist, and educationist Naresh Chandra Dev Varma formally received the prestigious Padma Shri award from Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan today.

The Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours, was conferred upon Dev Varma in recognition of his lifelong and selfless contribution to the preservation, promotion, and development of the Kokborok language, literature, and culture. His achievement has been widely celebrated across Tripura as a landmark recognition of the state’s rich tribal heritage and literary traditions.

A towering figure in Kokborok literature, Dev Varma has dedicated more than five decades of his life to documenting, enriching, and promoting the language. Through his extensive literary work, he has authored over 30 books, making a significant contribution to the growth of indigenous literature in Tripura and ensuring that the linguistic and cultural identity of the Tripuri people is preserved for future generations.

Born on October 31, 1944, in Bishramganj, Dev Varma pursued higher education at University of Calcutta before joining the Tripura Assembly Secretariat, where he eventually retired as a Joint Secretary. Alongside his professional career, he remained deeply committed to literary and cultural pursuits, emerging as one of the most respected scholars of the Kokborok language.

The Padma Shri honour adds to an already distinguished list of recognitions. In 2024, he was awarded the prestigious Tripura Bhushan, the highest civilian honour of the state, for his outstanding contributions to tribal literature and research.

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