A scientific, indigenous script born from love for a language — created to preserve the voice of 13 lakh Tani-speaking tribes across Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
Explore Tani Lipi →What is Tani Lipi
Tani Lipi is a scientific and indigenous writing system invented on 2nd June 2000 by renowned Indigenous Social Scientist Dr. Tony Koyu. It is an alphabetic typing and writing system specially designed for the promotion and preservation of the Tani Language — a linguistic heritage that was rapidly fading into oblivion.
Written left-to-right like English, Tani Lipi features 8 vowels and 18 consonants, carefully crafted to capture the unique phonetic patterns of Tani languages with scientific precision. It has no genetic relationship to any other writing system, though some letterforms carry subtle visual echoes of Bengali and Latin scripts.
Tani Lipi is more than ink on paper — it is our pride and identity. It is our most valuable common intellectual property, and the last hope to restore a language on the verge of silence.
Tani Lipi — A unique alphabetic system designed for the phonetical needs of Tani-speaking tribes
Established: 2nd June 2000The Language
The Tani Language belongs to the Tibeto-Burman language group and is spoken across the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in the North Eastern Region of India. For generations, these rich and expressive tongues survived purely through oral tradition — through storytelling, folklore, and the voices of elders. However, the lack of a standardized script posed a growing threat to its survival.
With the advent of Tani Lipi, the descendants of Abo Tani — the following proud tribes — can now unite under a common script and language:
The Inventor
Indigenous Social Scientist
Inventor of Tani Lipi
Author · Cultural Preservationist
Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh
Dr. Tony Koyu is a multifaceted personality from Arunachal Pradesh — a social activist, cultural preservationist, and tireless advocate for indigenous rights. He is best known as the Inventor of Tani Lipi, the scientific script of Arunachal Pradesh, which he unveiled to the world on 2nd June 2000.
The story of Tani Lipi is inseparable from Dr. Koyu's vision: it was not merely the introduction of a new alphabet, but the culmination of years of research, passion, and a deep desire to preserve a linguistic legacy teetering on the brink of extinction.
Dr. Koyu has authored and published novels and other books in both Adi and Galo languages using Tani Lipi, as well as a novel in Hindi. His literary works have facilitated thousands of people in mastering the script. The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Shri Pema Khandu Ji, personally appreciated his novels written in Tani language.
He also established the Tony Koyu Foundation, a company registered under Section 8 of the Companies Act, dedicated to digitalizing and promoting Tani Language and Tani Lipi across both Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
Our Journey
2nd June 2000
Dr. Tony Koyu invents Tani Lipi — a scientific and indigenous alphabetic script designed specifically for the phonetic needs of Tani-speaking tribes of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
April 2001
The then Education Minister Dera Natung approved Tani Lipi as the common script to be adopted by all state tribes, acknowledging its importance for indigenous language preservation.
November 2001
Tani Lipi was formally presented at a seminar held at the North Eastern Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), Naharlagun, Arunachal Pradesh, gaining academic recognition.
2010 Onwards
Dr. Tony Koyu publishes multiple books including novels in Galo and Adi languages using Tani Lipi, enabling thousands to learn and practice the script. Tani Lipi begins appearing in newspapers including Echo of Arunachal Pradesh.
2017
Youth organizations including APATCYO, NYWA, GYO, and others jointly urge the Chief Minister to officially adopt Tani Lipi, recognizing it as the shared cultural and linguistic identity of all Tani-speaking tribes.
December 2023
The Tony Koyu Foundation launches the Tani Lipi Typing App on the Google Play Store — empowering over 13 lakh Tani speakers to write, learn, and communicate in Tani Lipi in the digital age.
Our Mission
Tani Lipi provides a standardized writing system that rescues Tani Language from oral-only tradition, giving it a permanent, written form for future generations.
By offering a single common script for Adi, Nyishi, Galo, Tagin, Apatani, Mishing and other Tani tribes, Tani Lipi fosters social harmony and communal solidarity.
Adoption of Tani Lipi strengthens the campaign to get Tani Language recognized as an official language in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
Official recognition of Tani Language and Lipi would create government departments, educational institutes, and employment opportunities across the region for Tani-speaking communities.
Tani Lipi opens the door for indigenous literature, poetry, music, and storytelling to be formally documented, taught, and celebrated in schools and universities.
Through the Tani Lipi App and digital tools, the script enters the modern world — enabling Tani speakers to communicate, create, and connect digitally in their own language.
The Tony Koyu Foundation has launched the Tani Lipi Typing App on the Google Play Store, making the script accessible to all Tani speakers worldwide. Learn, type, and communicate in Tani Lipi from anywhere.
Join the Movement
Tani Lipi is not just a script — it is our identity, our legacy, and our future. Join thousands of Tani speakers who are reviving and celebrating their mother tongue through Tani Lipi. It is our last hope, and together, we can make it flourish.
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