Bodos of Assam and their struggle for autonomy
The Bodos of Assam are one of the largest plains tribal groups in Northeast India, with a long history of socio-cultural distinctiveness and political aspirations. Their struggle for autonomy emerged from a sense of marginalization within Assam’s political, economic, and cultural landscape. The community felt that despite being the original inhabitants of the Brahmaputra Valley, their identity, language, and land rights were increasingly threatened by the dominance of Assamese-speaking elites, rapid migration, and lack of adequate representation in governance. These grievances gave rise to organized movements in the late twentieth century, which combined cultural assertion with political demands.
The organized phase began with the formation of the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) in the late 1960s, which played a central role in articulating the community’s concerns. Under the leadership of figures like Upendranath Brahma, the ABSU launched the “Divide Assam Fifty-Fifty” movement in the 1980s, demanding a separate state of Bodoland. The movement gained momentum through mass protests, demonstrations, and strikes, reflecting both the frustration of the Bodos and their determination to secure political autonomy. However, alongside democratic mobilization, certain groups such as the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) resorted to militancy, which brought the movement into violent confrontation with the state and created instability in Assam.
The struggle eventually led to a series of negotiations with the government. The Bodo Accord of 1993 created the Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC), but dissatisfaction over its limited powers kept the demand alive. A more significant breakthrough came with the 2003 Bodo Accord, which established the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, granting greater autonomy in governance over the Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD). Despite this, challenges persisted, including factionalism within Bodo groups, ethnic tensions with other communities in Assam, and continued aspirations for full statehood among sections of the population.
The Bodo movement thus reflects the larger dynamics of ethnicity, identity, and regional autonomy in India’s Northeast. It highlights both the possibilities and limitations of accommodation within a federal democratic framework, showing how deep-rooted cultural identities continue to shape political struggles for recognition and self-rule.
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Bodos of Assam and their struggle for autonomy Bodos of Assam and their struggle for autonomy Bodos of Assam and their struggle for autonomy Bodos of Assam and their struggle for autonomy Bodos of Assam and their struggle for autonomy
