By Gendra Galla Narzinary,
The Bodos who are first settlers of Assam have been demanding a separate state to be created out of Assam since the late sixties. Mechanisms for this separate state demand changed from a democratic one to a violent upheaval at different points of time. Plains Tribals Council of Assam (PTCA) formed in 1967 not only taught the Bodos political consciousness but also a sense of having a separate homeland for the plains tribes of Assam. This party demanded a separate state named Udayachal in northern bank of mighty river Brahmaputra in Assam. Apart from the Bodos who constitute the largest plains tribe in Assam, this demand for Udayachal was supported by other plains tribes as it strove for inclusiveness. However, PTCA failed to fulfil its dream for Udayachal. The All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) also formed in 1967 started withdrawing its support to the PTCA sometime in 1979. The fallouts of it were dangerous including the deadly fratricidal killings amongst the Bodos, destruction of livelihoods and burning of villages. This incident stands out as a the most tragic for the Bodos. PTCA became dormant after ABSU withdrew its support. Therefore, ABSU under the leadership of Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma launched the movement for a full- fledged state of Bodoland in 1987.
Meanwhile, a militant outfit, the Bodo Security Force (BSF) was formed in 1986. It was rechristened as National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) in 1994. This outfit adopted violence as way to achieve its goal of creating a sovereign Bodo nation.
The first bipartite Bodo peace accord was signed in 1993 under the banner of ABSU and Bodo Peoples’ Action Committee (BPAC) with Assam Government in presence of the then Union Minister Rajesh Pilot according a Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC). It, however, miserably failed to fulfil the political aspirations of the Bodos. NDFB rejected this peace deal and its package. Hence they remained adamant at fighting for a sovereign Bodo nation. The failure of BAC was too poisonous as it paved the way for forming another militant outfit Bodo Liberation Tigers Force (BLT) in 1996 to fight for a separate state Bodoland within Union of India under the provision of the Constitution of India. Aftermath of BLT formation, the Bodos again entangled in ugly fratricidal killings.
However, after the short stint of violence, BLT signed the tripartite second Bodo peace accord with Government of India (GoI) and Assam Government in 2003 according the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC)-an administrative entity created under the provision of Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India. But this second peace treaty was also a failure as it couldn’t serve the political aspirations of the Bodos. These two peace accords were only temporary measures to shun violence and bring an end to armed conflict in Bodo areas. The Bodos again vowed for separate state of Bodoland under the leadership of ABSU. NDFB remained as armed outfit indulging in violence across the state. Hence the second peace treaty also stood as sub-optimal.
NDFB vowed for full fledged separate state after it gave up the concept of sovereign Bodo nation after it came to a ceasefire agreement with GoI in 2005. In the long journey of armed conflict, it got split into four factions. NDFB(S) led by B. Saoraigwra which signed a ceasefire agreement with GoI a fortnight ago from its base in Myanmar. After its coming into ceasefire agreement, the tripartite third Bodo peace accord was signed on January 27, 2020. All the factions of NDFB, ABSU and UBPO (United Bodo People’s Organisation) signed this new accord with GoI and Assam Government which is called the final and comprehensive peace deal with Bodo organizations demanding a separate state. This peace accord would bring to an end the final phase of Bodo militancy in Assam.
The outcome of this third accord is the creation of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) without affecting the territorial integrity of Assam. It would have legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers on several policy areas. This new Bodoland would resolve for protection and development of language, art, culture, education and economy in the region. It is not a separate state but a state of Bodoland within the state of Assam. Despite being hailed as a historic Bodo peace accord, several pertinent questions are being asked. Would this peace accord bring permanent solution to the Bodo issues? Would demand for separate state of Bodoland come to an end? Would it serve the political aspirations of the Bodos? Would this new Bodoland deliver development to each and every person in the new dispensation?
This historic accord in the history of Bodoland movement would definitely bring the end of over 34 years of Bodo militancy in Assam. Both Central and State governments should expedite the implementation of clauses of accord in letter and spirit. Leaders, in the corridors of power, should know the purposes of creation of this new Bodoland. It is created by sacrificing many souls! All the people therein be they Bodos or non-Bodos ought to get the privileges and share of the development cake.