Wancho Unicode Accepted by Universal Scripts Project/Unicode Consortium

Our Correspondent

Itanagar: The Wancho community of Arunachal Pradesh has a reason to smile as the proposal of Wancho Unicode sent to the Universal Scripts Project (USP)/ Unicode Consortium has finally been accepted.

Developed by Banwang Losu, an Arunachalee school teacher and Dipangkar Boruah of Naharkatia in Assam’s Tinsukia district, Wancho became first independent script of Arunachal Pradesh to be accepted by USP for its unique features.

The Wancho Unicode font developed by Losu and Baruah was accepted by USP giving Wancho language a recognition in the international arena, said a release from Wancho Literary Mission (WLM) in Longding district of the state.

The acceptance by USP indicates the opening of a window to access the Wancho script in internet, social media such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Messenger.

Online educational programs will also be accessed and distance education on Wancho language will also be available, the release added.

Some of the features of the script are, Wancho script is independent, not plagiarised from others. Newly invented and soon accepted by the USP officially, due to its uniqueness and value. First independent script in the state ever accepted by USP officially and Fonts are developed by local self-styled software expert Dipangkar Baruah without having training in a formal institution.

Losu had been pursuing since the last decade for the development of the script of the indigenous language after understanding the unique sound and importance to preserve it.

The Tata Steel acknowledging his contribution had supported the cost of study materials production with one-year fellowship under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) project.

The mission to expand and educate the Wancho script has been taken up by Wancho Literary Mission which has opened the Sedan Nursery School at Kamhua Noknu under Longding district, the release added.

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