Guwahati, July 6: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday inaugurated ‘Bodoland Speaks: From Vision to Action’, a major initiative under the Bodoland Happiness Mission, declaring that peace and unity are transforming the once-troubled Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) into a model of inclusive development.
The event, held at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati, marked a significant policy announcement. CM Sarma declared that all government notifications will henceforth be issued in the Bodo language across the 13 Bodo-inhabited districts—fulfilling a key demand of the All Bodo Students’ Union and recognizing the Bodo people’s linguistic and cultural identity.
Hailing the success of the Bodoland Happiness Mission, Sarma said it has played a vital role in sustaining peace and rebuilding trust among the region’s diverse ethnic groups. He credited the January 2020 Bodo Peace Accord—signed between the Centre, the Assam government, and the NDFB—as a turning point in the region’s history.
“From 1968 to 2020, BTR lived through unrest, violence, and fear. But in the last four years, I’ve not heard a single gunshot. That silence is the sound of peace,” Sarma said. He added that the cooperation of all 26 communities living in the region has been central to this transformation.
Several key publications were unveiled at the event, including BTR Communication Bridge, a multilingual guidebook containing 1,001 words and 1,001 sentences across 18 languages; Transforming Bodoland, which documents the region’s development journey; Lookin’ Within: My Reflections by BTC Chief Executive Member Pramod Boro; and the Annual Report of the Bodoland Happiness Mission (2024–25).
Eighteen cultural stalwarts were honored with the Bodoland Lifetime Achievers Award for their contributions to preserving the region’s folk heritage.
BTC Chief Executive Member Pramod Boro, speaking at the event, said that peace and dignity have returned to Bodoland after a decade of uncertainty. “The Bodoland Happiness Mission is not just a name—it’s our tool to stop violence, restore unity, and ensure every community has a voice and a future,” he said.
Boro emphasized that the region’s diverse cultural and linguistic heritage is an asset, not a divide. “With 26 communities and 18 languages, including eight that speak Assamese, we’ve published a book to help one community learn the language of another. It’s a small step toward greater understanding,” he added.
He also pointed to the Vision Document released by BTC in December 2023, which lays out a roadmap for sustainable peace, equity, and growth. “We’re not limiting ourselves to plans—we are putting ideas into action,” Boro said.
The event saw attendance from several key figures, including Minister for Welfare of Bodoland UG Brahma, MP Jayanta Basumatary, BTC Assembly Speaker Kati Ram Boro, Bodo Sahitya Sabha President Dr. Surath Narzary, and other dignitaries.
Both Sarma and Boro stressed that the 21st century belongs to innovation, not conflict. They called on the people of Bodoland to embrace education, technology, and enterprise as tools for progress—turning peace into prosperity for the entire region.
