This comprehensive history traces the evolution of formal education in the Princely State of Tripura from its pre-modern indigenous and Sanskritic roots to the establishment of a modern, state-sponsored system culminating in the mid-20th century. Through a detailed chronological and thematic analysis, it examines the pivotal role of the Manikya monarchs—particularly Maharajas Birchandra, Radhakishore, and Bir Bikram—as architects of educational modernization. It also explores the transformative impact of external influences, including British colonial administration, the philosophical guidance of Rabindranath Tagore, and the pioneering work of Christian missionaries. A critical focus is placed on the seminal, bottom-up Jana Siksha Samiti (People’s Education Committee) movement of 1945, which represented a mass democratic awakening for tribal literacy. Drawing on state archives, colonial records, and scholarly historiography, this work argues that Tripura’s educational journey was a unique synthesis of royal paternalism, cultural synthesis, and grassroots populism, creating a distinctive legacy that shaped the region’s socio-intellectual landscape long after its merger with India in 1949.