Tagin Language Research & Development Society

The Tagin language, spoken by the Tagin tribe—one of the major tribes of Arunachal Pradesh in Northeast India—is predominantly used in the Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh. It belongs to the Tani subgroup of the Sino-Tibetan language family. Tagin is not merely a medium of daily communication but also a living repository of history, a ceremonial standard, and the foundational social and spiritual code that underpins customary practices. As early as 1953, just before the advent of modern administration and political systems in the region, the Tagin people and their language were largely unknown to the outside world, except to Tibet, with whom they maintained trade and commercial relations. occurred for the first time only in late 1953. The Indian government became aware of the existence of the Tagin community following the Achingmori Massacre in October 1953.

In the annals of the Tagin linguistic preservation journey, the year 2012, marked by the Third TCS General Conference held from 15th to 17th December, will always remain a red-letter day. During this conference, an epoch-making decision was made to develop a new writing script for the Tagin language, as the existing system failed to provide accurate tonal representation and could not precisely produce the desired sounds.

On 5th September 2021, on the auspicious occasion of Teachers’ Day, Tagin language—alongside those of seven other tribes—was oAicially recognized in the first batch of state-approved languages of Arunachal Pradesh. The release of Third Language textbooks by Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Pema Khandu marked a historic moment. Tagin’s inclusion in this pioneering batch stands as a landmark achievement in its cultural journey, aAirming its rightful place in the tapestry of Arunachal’s linguistic heritage.