Bodoland Happiness Mission has turned a troubled past into a model of peace and progress: Assam CM at ‘Bodoland Speaks’ launch

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 6, 2025

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday inaugurated ‘Bodoland Speaks: From Vision to Action’, a flagship initiative of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) under the Bodoland Happiness Mission, at a programme held at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister praised the Bodoland Happiness Mission for playing a crucial role in strengthening peace and stability across the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). He said the initiative reflects the collective resolve of the Bodo people and 26 other tribal communities in turning Bodoland from a conflict-ridden area into a region of cooperation and development.

Sarma recalled the violent past of the region, stating that since 1968, Bodoland had been mired in fear and unrest, driven by calls for self-determination and community tensions. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for initiating a shift toward lasting peace, which was cemented by the signing of the tripartite Bodo peace accord in 2020. The accord, involving the Central and State governments and the NDFB, ushered in what Sarma described as “tangible and enduring peace.”

“In the past four years as Chief Minister, I haven’t heard the sound of a single gunshot in BTR. That silence is the true success of the peace accord,” Sarma said.

Highlighting the region’s cultural and linguistic identity, Sarma announced that the state government will begin issuing all official notifications in the Bodo language in the 13 Bodo-inhabited districts of Assam. He said the move fulfills a long-standing demand of the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) and is a recognition of the Bodo people’s contribution to the state.

The event also featured the launch of several publications and resources, including BTR Communication Bridge, a multilingual guidebook with 1001 words and sentences in 18 regional languages; Transforming Bodoland, a report documenting development in the BTR; and Lookin’ Within: My Reflections, authored by BTC Chief Executive Member Pramod Boro. The annual report of the Bodoland Happiness Mission for 2024–25 was also released.