Bodoland Territorial Region

Bodoland, oficially the Bodoland Territorial Region, is an autonomous region in Assam, Northeast India. It made up of four districts on the north bank of the Brahmaputra river, by the foothills of Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh. It is administered by an elected body known as the Bodoland Territorial Council which came into existence under the terms of a peace agreement signed in February 2003 and its autonomy was further extended by an agreement signed in January 2020. The region covers an area of over nine thousand square kilometres and is predominantly inhabited by the Bodo people and other indigenous communities of Assam.[4][5]

This article is about the autonomous region. For the council which controls the region, see Bodoland Territorial Council.

Bodoland
Autonomous administrative division
Bodoland Territorial Region
Seal
Motto(s): 
Satyameva Jayate
("Truth alone triumphs")
Slogan(s): For Peace and Development
Bodoland Territorial Region within Assam
Country India
StateAssam
Established9 February 2003
HeadquartersKokrajhar
Districts4
Government
 • BodyBodoland Territorial Council
 • Chief Executive MemberPramod Boro[1]
 • Deputy Chief Executive MemberGobinda Basumatary[2]
 • SpeakerKatiram Boro
Area
 • Total9,612 km2 (3,711 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total3,155,359
 • Density330/km2 (850/sq mi)
Languages[3]
 • OfficialBodo, Assamese, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Websitebodoland.gov.in

Etymology of Bodoland
See also: Boro people § Etymology of Boro

The Plains Tribes Council of Assam had demanded, since its inception in 1967, for a separate union territory for the Boro and other plain tribes to be called Udayachal.[6] With the failure of PTCA, the All Bodo Students' Union launched the Bodo Movement in 1987 with the demand for a separate state to be called Bodoland,[7] ending with the Bodo Accord of 1993 with the formation of Bodoland Autonomous Council.[8] Bodoland is named after Bodo, an alternative spelling of the Boro people who live primarily in the Dooars regions of Goalpara and Kamrup districts.

History
Bodoland is Mech or Bârâ region of North bank, as reported in the Language Survey of India 1903
A Brahma Temple at Kokrajhar
See also: Protected tribal belts and blocks in Assam

Originally a part of ancient Kamarupa this region came under the control of Koch-Mech descendent king Vishwa Singha in the early 16th century.[9] It was delineated as a region for the first time around 1562 when the successor king Nara Narayan determined that the Koch and Mech peoples north of the newly constructed Gohain Kamal Ali could follow their indigenous customs whereas peoples to its south had to follow Hindu Brahmanical rites.[10][11] After the split of the Koch kingdom, subsequent collapse of the eastern Koch Hajo due to the Mughals and during the period of Ahom-Mughal conflicts in early 17th century, the Bhutan kingdom pushed south and took control of the region down to the Gohain Kamal Ali.[12][13] By the end of the 17th century the Ahom kingdom had extended their control up to the Manas river, and the region north of the Gohain Kamal Ali became to be divided into different Duars[14] each having individual administrative mechanisms that the Bhutan kingdom and the Ahom kingdom shared. The Duars in the Goalpara region (which was outside the Ahom kingdom) were under Bhutan's control, the Duars in the Kamrup region were shared under the Posa system and the Duars in the Darrang region were alternately controlled by the Bhutanese and the Ahoms in an annual cycle.[15] After the British took control of Assam in 1826, they maintained the Ahom-Bhutan arrangement somewhat and following the Duar War in 1865 took complete possession of the Duars and removed Bhutanese interest for good.

Demand for statehood

Along with the other parts of Northeast India, regional aspiration in the region reached a turning point in the 1980s. The isolation of the region, its complex social character, and its backwardness compared to other parts of the country have all resulted in the complicated set of demands ranging from demand for autonomy and opposition to 'outsiders' to movements for secession.

The region is also the gateway to the North Eastern Region of India, where one of the main students organization, All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), allied with National Democratic Front of Boroland – Progressive (NDFB-P), National Democratic Front of Boroland – D.R. Nabla faction, People's Joint Action Committee for Boroland Movement (PJACBM) which is an amalgamation of over three dozen Bodo organisations[16] and its supporters are demanding from the Government of India that a separate state (within the Indian Union) be created comprising the seven districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, Udalguri, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur and Dhemaji of Assam which have a significant Bodo population.[17][18] On the other hand, it is also claimed as a sovereign state (complete independence from India) by the separatist insurgent group NDFB.[19]

1993 and 2003 peace agreements

Following an agreement in 1993, Bodoland became an autonomous administrative unit constituted under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India covering an area of 8,795 km2 administered by the Bodoland Autonomous Council.

Following a further peace agreement, the Bodoland Territorial Council was formed in 2003, with a mission to accomplish development in the area of economic, education, preservation of land right, linguistic aspiration, socio-culture and ethnic identity of Bodos and above all to speed up the infrastructure development of communities in the Bodoland area. The actual functioning of the council was started on 7 December 2003 by constituting the 12 members of the Council provisionally.

After the Council Election on 13 May 2005 and subsequent bye-election in November 2005, the 40-member Legislative Council has been formed to look after the development works in the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts. The remaining six members are nominated by the Governor of Assam from the unrepresented Communities. Thus there are altogether 46 members of the council, representing all communities of BTC Area known as Member of Council Legislative Assembly (MCLA).

2020 peace agreement and the formation of the Bodoland Territorial Region

A new peace agreement was signed on 27 January 2020 between the Government of India and the Government of Assam on one side and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland, (NDFB) the All Bodo Students’ Union and United Bodo People's Organisation on the other.[20] Under the terms of this agreement, a Bodoland Territorial Region was formed with enhanced executive and legislative powers. The Bodoland Territorial Council will have competency over almost all areas defined by the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India and its membership will be increased to 60.[21] The boundary of BTR will be redrawn to make Boro speakers majority within the region. This will be done by forming new districts and the boundary of the region will be adjusted to include contiguous Bodo inhabited areas from neighbouring districts and exclude the non-Bodo inhabited territories which are currently under the jurisdiction of the BTC.[22] Bodoland will also have the right to be represented at national level sports and cultural events such as the National Games of India and the Khelo India Youth Games.[23] The agreement also makes the Bodo language with Devnagri script an associate official language of Assam.

Government and politics

Bodoland Territorial Council
Main article: Bodoland Territorial Council

The region is administered by an elected body known as the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) which was established according to the Memorandum of Settlement of 10 February 2003. BTC came into existence immediately after the surrender of Bodo Liberation Tigers Force (BLTF). The BLTF laid down their weapons on 6 December 2003 under the leadership of Hagrama Mohilary and Hagrama was sworn in as the Chief Executive Member (CEM) on 7 December 2003.

The BTC has 46 members (30 seats reserved for scheduled Tribes, 5 seats for non-scheduled tribes and 5 open seats) and 6 seats of which are nominated by Governor of Assam from unrepresented communities. The council appoints a cabinet of 14 executive members each looking after a specific area of control.

Districts

The Bodoland region is made up of four districts which are further subdivided into 10 Civil Subdivisions and 40 Development Blocks.[24]

The area and population under the four districts has been estimated as follows:

No Name Area (km2) Population (census 2011)
1 Kokrajhar 3,169 887,142
2 Chirang 1,974 482,162
3 Baksa 2,457 950,075
4 Udalguri 2,012 831,668
Total 9,612 3,151,047

Under the terms of a peace agreement signed in January 2020, new districts will be created with the existing four districts reorganised into seven districts. The area of the region will be enlarged and will also include two new districts created from areas currently outside the region. The total number of districts within the Bodoland region will therefore be nine.[25]

The proposed new districts created from districts currently within the Bodoland region are
  • Gossaigaon district, from Kokrajhar district
  • Manas district, from Baksa district
  • Bhergaon district, from Udalguri district
The proposed new districts created from districts currently outside the Bodoland region are

Geography

The geographical boundary of the BTR lies between 26° 7'12'' N to 26° 47' 50'' N Latitude and 89° 47' 40'' E to 92° 18' 30'' E Longitude and is in the North Western part of Assam. Kokrajhar town the Administrative Head Quarter lies roughly between 26° 25' N latitude and 90° 16' 38'' E Longitude.

Its strategic location is blessed with beautiful forests of flora and founa.[24]

Economy
Agriculture in Kokrajhar district

The economy is largely agricultural based and is lagging behind in urbanization and development. The region is industrially backward with most of its population depending on agriculture for livelihood. Most of the industries like oil, gas and major industries of the state are located in upper Assam.

Urbanisation

The region is one of the most underdeveloped and backward regions of India of which only 3 percent of the population live in urban areas.

Tourism

Tourism in the region is regulated by the department of Bodoland Tourism. Manas National Park is the major tourist attraction of the region. It also has many wildlife sanctuaries, reserve forests, site seeings, picnic spots, and events.[26]

Manas National Park
Main article: Manas National Park
Main entrance of Manas National Park in Chirang

Manas, the nature's abode is at the foothills of Bhutan with its unique biodiversity and landscape. The blending of the dense jungle and grassland at the confluence of Indian, Ethiopian and Indo Chinese realms enhances it as one of the richest region of wild animals. The Park harbours 60 species of mammals of which 23 has been listed in Schedule 1 under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972. The Park also has a recorded count of 36 species of reptiles and 476 species of birds. The Park is home for Elephant, Rhino, Tiger, Gaur, Wild Buffalo, Deer, Wild Hogs, and many other Reptiles, Birds and Insects including some highly endangered species like Pygmy Hog, Golden Langur & Bengal Florican. It is not only a significant National Park of India but also an important migratory corridor for the elephant population of the entire Indo-Bhutan region. Manas is also included in the much ambitious plan nomenclature as Indian Rhino Vision −2020 (IRV-2020) since 2006, with the support of Govt. of Assam in collaboration with Wildlife Trust of India, (WTI), Bodoland Territorial Council, WWF-India, International Rhino Foundation, and US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Gethsemane Man-made Forest
Main article: Bhairabkunda

Situated in Udalguri's Bhairabkunda, it is a forest-grown entirely by local JFMC of 35 members with the help of Forest department of Assam.[27] Spread across more than 6 km2, the forest contains more than 1.4 million plus trees of over 35 varieties. A number of animals, birds and reptiles[28] can also be spotted in the area. Visitors can trek through the trail in the forest and stay the night in their guest house.[29]

Trekking of Baukungri Hill
Main article: Baukungri Hajw Gakhwnai

Baukungri hill trekking is an adventurous event held annually in Kokrajhar, Bodoland. It is organised every year on first day of the year according to the Bodo calendar which falls in mid April.[30]

Infrastructure

Transportation
Main article: Transportation in Bodoland

The Bodoland Transport Service (BTS) manages bus services in the region. Bodoland Transport Service buses have a direct bus service to the capital of assam Guwahati and capital of Meghalaya shillong[31] The service initially ran 4 buses across the four districts but currently operates 16 buses that generates INR 1,800,000 annually according to a recent report.

Electricity

State Power Sector Reform Programme under the provision of electricity act 2019 resulted in the unbundling of Bodoland territory Electricity Board

The Bodoland Power Generation Corporation Limited is mainly responsible for maximum energy generation to meet up the energy demand in the territory of Bodoland,[32] while the latter is responsible to efficiently transport electrical power from electrical power bulk heads to the distribution company networks in the territory of Bodoland.[33]

The primary purpose of the Bodoland Power Distribution Company Limited is to undertake distribution, trading and supply of electricity in the territory of Bodoland or outside of it.[34]

Demographics

Population

Bodos are the majority community in the region numbering around 1 million (31%) followed by Bengali Muslims, who form the largest minority group.[35] The population of BTC area as per 2001 Census report is 2,920,000 out which the ST population is around 35% of which only 3% of the total population live in urban areas. The average density of the population in BTC is 326 per Sq.K.m. compared to 340 per Sq.K.m. of Assam. Amongst the ST/SC population Bodos, Rabhas, Keots (Kaibartas) and less quantity of Garos are inhabiting in this area out which Bodos will be 90% or approximately 1.2 million.[35] The other minority communities like Rajbongshi, Sarania are inhabiting in large part of BTC. Tea and Ex Tea-tribes including Santhal, Oraon etc. are also available. Moreover, other general communities like Bengali, Gorkha and few numbers of Hindi speaking people are also found in the Council area.[36]

Religion in Bodoland (2011 Census)
Religion Percent
Hindus
 
 71.25%
Muslims
 
 19.21%
Christians
 
 9.14%
Buddhist
 
 0.16%
Not Stated
 
 0.24%
Language in Bodoland (2011 Census)
Language Percent
Bodo
 
 30.47%
Assamese
 
 25.59%
Bengali
 
 20.45%
Santali
 
 5.4%
Hindi
 
 4.7%
Nepali
 
 3.4%
Kurukh
 
 1.5%
Rabha
 
 1.1%
Others
 
 2.5%

Education

Literacy rate

Bodoland has a literacy rate (7 years and above) of 61.3%.[37]

Culture
Main article: Bodo culture
A green coloured Aronai with white Agor (design)
Bodo girls dancing the Bagurumba dance

The Bodos have a distinct culture from the rest of the world, ranging from dance and music to festivals and attires. It also contributed significantly to the development of the Bodo culture and Bodo language.

Sports

Football is the most popular sport in the region. The region has many Football clubs of which Baarhoongkha AC, Udalguri FC and Global FC is the most widely known as they participate in Assam State Premier League, the premier football league of the state. Bodoland Martyrs Gold Cup is organised every year in memory of Bodoland martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Bodoland movement.[38] The region has also produced many national level athletes. Other sports followed in the region are Badminton, Basketball, Volleyball, Cricket, Taekwondo, Kabaddi, Chess, Archery, and other indigenous sports.[39]

See also

References
  1. Das, Mukut (14 December 2020). "From student leader to BTC chief: The meteoric rise of Pramod Boro | Guwahati News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  2. "Bodoland Territorial Council: Five members of BJP-UPPL-GSP coalition sworn in". Deccan Herald. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  3. "Assam govt to bring ordinance to accord Bodo as associate official language". The New Indian Express. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  4. "Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Accord". cdpsindia.org. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  5. "THE BODOLAND AUTONOMOUS COUNCIL ACT, 1993" (PDF). ucdpged.uu.se. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  6. "(T)he Bodo leadership in 1967 formed a political party called the Plains Tribals Council of Assam (PTCA). Since its formation, the PTCA has categorically demanded a union territory for the Bodosand other Plains tribals of the region called Udayachal." (George 1994:879)
  7. "ABSU took over the leadership of the Bodos; it launched a movement for greater autonomy on March 2, 1987, with the demand for creation of a full fledged state of Bodoland outside of Assam." (George 1994:880)
  8. "These efforts ultimately resulted in the Bodo Accord, signed at Guwahati on February 20, formally ending the six-year Bodoland agitation...The Bodo Accord provides for a Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC)..." (George 1994:887)
  9. "When Biswa Singha (1515-40) rose to power, the local chiefs, who ruled the country between the river Sonkosh and the Baradi were subdued and the Koch occupied the Duar areas." (Das 1998:29)
  10. "[Nara Narayana] further instructed the Meches living to the north of the Gosain Kamal Ali to follow their tribal customs, but in the territory south of this road as far as the Brahmaputra Brahmanic rites were to be continued." (Nath 1989:55)
  11. (Allen 1905:66)
  12. "Taking advantage of [the collapse of Koch Hajo], the Bhutias pushed their southern boundary towards the plains and occupied the land upto the Gohain Kamal Ali." (Das 1998:13)
  13. "During the period of political uncertainty caused by the Ahom-Mughal conflict in the middle of seventeenth century, the Bhutias had taken possession of the whole of the fertile plain south of their hills as far as the Gohain Kamal Ali." (Das 1998:59)
  14. "These Duars play crucial role in the determination of the relations between Assam and Bhutan. The term ‘Duar’ literally meaning ‘door’ in English, is used to refer to the areas below the foothills is equivalent to Bhutanese ‘las-sgo’ (lit. work-door) which always carries the sense of a border mart at the foot of a pass and the area in its immediate vicinity." (Das 1998:26)
  15. "It was also provided that the Darrang Duars were to be annually surrendered to the Ahom government for four months from Ashar to Aswin. (that is from the 15lh of June to the 15lh of October)." (Das 1998:30)
  16. "Bodo groups impose 12-hour 'bandh' in Assam over statehood demand". Hindustan Times. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  17. "A demand for Bodoland, with blood". The Telegraph. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  18. "Teer in Shillong: Teer Result Online | F/R & S/R » [2020]". TeerinShillong.
  19. T8N (14 September 2017). "NDFB(S) eyes Bodoland sovereignty". Archived from the original on 16 March 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  20. "Govt signs historic Bodo peace accord, Amit Shah says golden future awaits Assam". India Today. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  21. "How the Bodo Accord was accomplished, establishing a wider template for peace in the Northeast". Times of India Blog. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  22. "KMSS Leader Akhil Gogoi's Judicial Custody Extended". News18. 10 February 2020.
  23. Bharati, Ananta Ram (28 January 2020). "What is Bodo Peace Accord? Read the full text of Draft Bodo Treaty". Indus Scrolls. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  24. "About Bodoland". www.bodoland.in. 2 December 2018.
  25. Bharati, Ananta Ram (28 January 2020). "What is Bodo Peace Accord? Read the full text of Draft Bodo Treaty". Indus Scrolls. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  26. "Bodoland Tourism". www.bodolandtourism.org. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  27. "Afforestation changes life and landscape: How a district in Assam lost a forest, gained a future". The Indian Express. 25 December 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  28. "Man-made forest houses rare flying snake". The Assam Tribune Online. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  29. "New tourist guest house at Bhairabkunda". Assam Times. 17 November 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  30. "Kokrajhar- Three Day Baokhungri festival Begins". Arunachal24.in. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  31. "Bodoland Transport Service Takes Off". 30 September 2008. Archived from the original on 2 January 2018 – via www.highbeam.com.
  32. "company profile". www.bpgcl.org.
  33. "comprofile". www.aegcl.co.in.
  35. "Bodos say most Muslim settlers are illegal migrants – Assam violence: Chief reasons behind the rivalry". The Economic Times. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  36. "Bodoland Territorial Council | Kokrajhar". bodoland.gov.in. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  37. "2011 Estimates as per Census report 2001" (PDF).
  38. "Bodoland martyrs gold cup kicks off". Assam Times.
  39. "日本播放一区二区三区,亚洲性线免费观看视频成熟,欧美XXXXXX69,国产在线播放原创精品". www.asplsoccer.com. Retrieved 3 December 2020.

Bibliography

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