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{{about|the autonomous region|the council which controls the region|Bodoland Territorial Council}} | |||
{{Original research|date=January 2008}} | |||
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2017}} | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} | |||
{{Infobox settlement | {{Infobox settlement | ||
| name = Bodoland Territorial Region | |||
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| image_seal = Emblem of Bodoland.png | ||
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| seal_size = 82px | ||
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| image_map = Bodoland Territorial Area Districts.svg | ||
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| map_caption = Bodoland Territorial Region Within India | |||
| demographics_type1 = Languages | |||
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| demographics1_info1 = ] | |||
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| coordinates = {{coord|26|42|N|91|05|E|region:IN_dim:200000|display=inline,title}} | |||
| motto = "]"<br/> | |||
Slogan: "For Peace and Development" | |||
| subdivision_type = Country | |||
| subdivision_name = {{IND}} | |||
| subdivision_type1 = ] | |||
| subdivision_type2 = | |||
| subdivision_name1 = ] | |||
| subdivision_name2 = | |||
| established_title = Established | |||
| established_date = {{start date and age|2003|2|9}} | |||
| seat_type = Capital | |||
| seat = ] | |||
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| parts_style = para | |||
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| founder = | |||
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| government_type = ] | |||
| governing_body = ] | |||
| leader_title = ] | |||
| leader_name = ]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Das |first1=Mukut |title=From student leader to BTC chief: The meteoric rise of Pramod Boro |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/from-student-leader-to-btc-chief-the-meteoric-rise-of-pramod-boro/articleshow/79716613.cms |access-date=15 December 2020 |work=The Times of India |date=14 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=BTC Elections Result: UPPL's Pramod Boro declared new BTC chief |url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/north-east-india-news/assam-news/btc-elections-result-uppls-pramod-boro-declared-new-btc-chief-516042 |access-date=20 February 2021 |work=The Sentinel |date=13 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| leader_title1 = Deputy Chief Executive | |||
| leader_name1 = Gobinda Basumatary<ref>{{cite news |title=Bodoland Territorial Council: Five members of BJP-UPPL-GSP coalition sworn in |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/bodoland-territorial-council-five-members-of-bjp-uppl-gsp-coalition-sworn-in-927615.html |access-date=15 December 2020 |work=Deccan Herald |date=15 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| leader_title2 = Speaker | |||
| leader_name2 = Katiram Boro | |||
| leader_title3 = Deputy Speaker | |||
| leader_name3 = | |||
| unit_pref = Metric | |||
| area_footnotes = | |||
| area_rank = | |||
| area_total_km2 = 8970 | |||
| elevation_footnotes = | |||
| elevation_m = | |||
| population_total = 3155359 | |||
| population_as_of = 2011 | |||
| population_rank = | |||
| population_density_km2 = auto | |||
| population_demonym = | |||
| population_footnotes = | |||
| demographics_type1 = Languages<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/oct/07/assam-govt-to-bring-ordinance-to-accord-bodo-as-associate-official-language-2207247.html |date=7 October 2020 |access-date=4 December 2020 |website=The New Indian Express |title=Assam govt to bring ordinance to accord Bodo as associate official language}}</ref> | |||
| demographics1_title1 = Official | |||
| demographics1_info1 = ], ]<ref>{{cite news |title=As Assam grants Bodo language official status, here's all you need to know on Bodoland struggle |url=https://theprint.in/theprint-essential/as-assam-grants-bodo-language-official-status-heres-all-you-need-to-know-on-bodoland-struggle/519610/ |access-date=27 February 2022 |work=ThePrint |date=8 October 2020}}</ref> | |||
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| postal_code_type = <!-- ] --> | |||
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| website = {{URL|https://bodoland.gov.in/}} | |||
| footnotes = | |||
}} | }} | ||
The '''Bodoland Territorial Region''' ('''BTR''') is an ] in ], ], and a ] in ]. It is made up of five districts on the north bank of the ] below the foothills of ] and ]. It is administered by an elected body known as the ] 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 ] and other indigenous communities of Assam.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cdpsindia.org/btc_accord.asp|title=Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Accord|website=cdpsindia.org|access-date=15 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419131353/http://cdpsindia.org/btc_accord.asp|archive-date=19 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=THE BODOLAND AUTONOMOUS COUNCIL ACT, 1993 |url=https://ucdpged.uu.se/peaceagreements/fulltext/India%2019930220.pdf |website=ucdpged.uu.se |access-date=3 December 2020}}</ref> | |||
'''Bodoland''' ({{IPA-en|bədəʊˌlænd/, /'bəʊdəˌlænd}}, ({{Lang-brx|बड'लेण्ड}}) is a proposed state of ] consisting of areas located in the extreme north on the north bank of the ] in the state of ], in north east region of ], by the foothills of ] and ]. The region is predominantly inhabited by over one million indigenous ].{{Citation needed|date=November 2016}} Currently the map of Bodoland includes the ] (BTAD) administered by the ] (BTC) and other parts covering over twenty-five thousands square kilometres. The territory came into existence under the BTC Accord in February 2003.<ref></ref> The map of Bodoland overlaps with the districts of ], ], ] and ] in the state of ]. At present, ] serves as the capital of Bodoland Territorial Area Districts. | |||
== Etymology of ''Bodoland'' == | |||
==Introduction== | |||
{{see also|Boro people#Etymology of Boro}} | |||
Bodoland(A land of Bodos) is the gateway to the ], where local politicians have demanded very recently that a separate state (within the Indian Union) be created by carving out some of eight districts of the current State of Assam, namely Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamrup, Darang and Sonitpur districts. It is an ] constituted under the Sixth Schedule of the ] covering an area of 8,795 km<sup>2</sup> (Provisional). | |||
The Plains Tribes Council of Assam had demanded, since its inception in 1967, for a separate union territory for the ] and other plain tribes to be called ''Udayachal''.<ref>"(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." {{harvcol|George|1994|p=879}}</ref> 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'',<ref>"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." {{harvcol|George|1994|p=880}}</ref> ending with the Bodo Accord of 1993 with the formation of Bodoland Autonomous Council.<ref>"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)..." {{harvcol|George|1994|p=887}}</ref> Bodoland is named after ''Bodo'', an alternative spelling of the ] who live primarily in the ] regions of ] and ] districts. | |||
== History == | |||
The administrative unit has been created 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 BTC area. The actual functioning of 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. | |||
{{see also|Protected tribal belts and blocks in Assam|Dooars}} | |||
{{CSS image crop | |||
|Image = Map of the Languages and Dialects of the Bârâ or Bodo Group of the Tibeto-Burman Family (cropped).jpg | |||
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|Description = Bodoland is Mech or Bârâ region of North bank, as reported in the Language Survey of India 1903 | |||
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] | |||
Originally a part of ], this region came under the control of ] king ] in the early 16th century.<ref>"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." {{harvcol|Das|1998|p=29}}</ref> Around 1562, the successor king ] determined that the Meches and Koches peoples north of the newly constructed ] could follow their indigenous customs whereas peoples to its south had to follow Hindu Brahmanical rites.<ref>" further instructed the Meches and Koches 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." {{harvcol|Nath|1989|p=55}}</ref><ref>Naranarayan placed an image of Goddess Durga and appointed a Kachari as its priest. He then collected all the Bhutias of Duars, the Kacharis and Meches living between the Bhutan hills and the Gohain Kamal Ali and ordered that the former could follow their tribal custom in the territory upto the Gohain Kamal Ali.{{harvcol|Das|1998|pp=31–32}}</ref> After the split of the Koch kingdom and subsequent collapse of the eastern ] due to the Mughals and during the period of ] in early 17th century the Bhutan kingdom pushed south and took control of the region down to the Gohain Kamal Ali.<ref>"Taking advantage of , the Bhutias pushed their southern boundary towards the plains and occupied the land upto the Gohain Kamal Ali." {{harvcol|Das|1998|p=13}}</ref><ref>"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." {{harvcol|Das|1998|p=59}}</ref> Following the ] in 1681 the ] consolidated their rule up to the ] in the west and the region north of the Gohain Kamal Ali, divided into different '']'', fell into its possession.<ref>"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." {{harvcol|Das|1998|p=26}}</ref> The Ahoms soon faced trouble from the Bhutanese, in the form of incursions, raids,<ref>"As a result, they are said to have harassed the population along the Assam frontiers with persistent incursions and raids."{{harvcol|Phuntsho|2013|p=394}}</ref> and violent opposition, beginning about 1688, to tax collection by the Ahoms.<ref name="auto">{{harvcol|Phukan|2014|p=65}}</ref> Eventually these clashes came to an end with a written agreement.<ref name="auto"/> | |||
] till the ] of 1865]] | |||
Duars between ] and ] were collectively known as the ], those between Manas River and ] were collectively known as ],<ref>"The Kamrup duars were Bijni, Chapakhamar, Chapaguri, Baksa and Gharkola." {{harvcol|Phukan|2014|p=63}}</ref> and those between Barnadi River and ] were collectively known as ].<ref>{{harvcol|Das|1998|p=26}}</ref><ref>"The two Darrang duars were Bariguma and Killing." {{harvcol|Phukan|2014|p=63}}</ref> The duars to the west of Goalpara were called ]. | |||
The ''Duars'' in the ] region (which was outside the Ahom kingdom) were under Bhutan's control, but the administration of the Duars to east were shared between Bhutan or ] and the Ahom kingdom under different mechanisms.<ref>{{harvtxt|Das|1998|p=32}}</ref><ref>"While Bhutan generally enjoyed absolute possession of the eleven Bengal duars, its control over the seven Assam duars was not straightforward. Even during the Ahom rule, the Bhutanese did not gain full possession of the duar tracts. As a result, they are said to have harassed the population along the Assam frontiers with persistent incursions and raids." {{harvcol|Phuntsho|2013|p=394}}</ref> The ''Duars'' in the Kamrup region followed the ''posa'' system in which the Bhutanese were given possession of the duars in lieu of an annual payment;<ref>"In order to avoid these violent attacks, the Ahom rulers gave possession of the five duar tracts along the Kamrup district to Bhutan in exchange for an annual payment. The payment included about thirty-seven tola of gold, thirty-seven bags of musk, thirty-seven yak tails, thirty-seven daggers, thirty-seven blankets, fifty-seven ponies and about 4785 Narrainee rupees in cash in total." {{harvcol|Phuntsho|2013|p=394}}</ref> and those in the Darrang region were alternately controlled by the Bhutanese and the Ahoms in an annual cycle.<ref>"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 15th of June to the 15th of October)." {{harvcol|Das|1998|p=30}}</ref> The Bhutanese control over these regions were via local authorities, not ethnic Bhutanese, who were appointed by Bhutanese provincial governors called '']''<ref>{{harvcol|Phuntsho|2013|p=394}}</ref> | |||
After the British took control of Ahom kingdom in 1826, they maintained the Ahom-Bhutan arrangement for a while but the payments made in kind and the shared administration were something the colonial administration was unwilling to maintain<ref>"This arrangement between Bhutan and Ahom rulers of control over the seven Assam duars continued with the British after their annexation of Assam in 1826." {{harvcol|Phuntsho|2013|p=395}}</ref> and annexed the Kamrup and Darrang Duars in 1841 and the Kariapar Duar in 1844;<ref>{{harvtxt|Das|1998|p=31}}</ref> and following the ] in 1865 took complete possession of the Duars and removed Bhutanese interest from the Goalpara and Western Duars for good. The duars associated with the historical regions of ], ], and ] were then added to these districts. | |||
===Demand for statehood=== | |||
Along with the other parts of ], 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 migrants to movements for secession. | |||
The region is also the gateway to the ], where one of the main students organization, All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), allied with ], ], People's Joint Action Committee for Boroland Movement (PJACBM) which is an amalgamation of over three dozen Bodo organisations<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bodo-groups-impose-12-hour-bandh-in-assam-over-statehood-demand/story-nGRNnkfVZaCV0IAqKBmPiI.html|title=Bodo groups impose 12-hour 'bandh' in Assam over statehood demand|date=11 September 2017|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=3 December 2020}}</ref> and its supporters are demanding from the ] that a separate state (within the Indian Union) be created comprising the seven districts of ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] of Assam which have a significant Bodo population.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/a-demand-for-bodoland-with-blood/cid/1423329|title=A demand for Bodoland, with blood|work=The Telegraph|access-date=3 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://teerinshillong.in/|title=Teer in Shillong: Teer Result Online | F/R & S/R » |website=TeerinShillong}}</ref> On the other hand, it is also claimed as a sovereign state (complete independence from India) by the separatist insurgent group ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.time8.in/ndfbs-eyes-bodoland-sovereignty/|title=NDFB(S) eyes Bodoland sovereignty|last=T8N|date=14 September 2017|access-date=27 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316055853/https://www.time8.in/ndfbs-eyes-bodoland-sovereignty/|archive-date=16 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
====1993 and 2003 peace agreements==== | |||
Following an agreement in 1993, Bodoland became an ] constituted under the ] of the ] covering an area of 8,795 km<sup>2</sup> 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 ] and the ] on one side and the ] (NDFB), the All Bodo Students’ Union and United Bodo People's Organisation on the other.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/amit-shah-historic-bodo-peace-accord-sign-assam-1640584-2020-01-27|title=Govt signs historic Bodo peace accord, Amit Shah says golden future awaits Assam|date=27 January 2020|work=India Today|access-date=3 December 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-edit-page/how-the-bodo-accord-was-accomplished-establishing-a-wider-template-for-peace-in-the-northeast/|title=How the Bodo Accord was accomplished, establishing a wider template for peace in the Northeast|date=6 February 2020|work=Times of India Blog|access-date=3 December 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/assam-sets-up-commission-to-redraw-btad-boundary-as-per-bodo-accord/story-IUFWbplwwEnuuQfPpvPAkM.html | title=Assam sets up commission to redraw BTAD boundary as per Bodo accord | date=25 September 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bodoland-area-is-set-to-be-redrawn/article61640183.ece | title=Bodoland Area is set to be redrawn | newspaper=The Hindu | date=25 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.time8.in/assam-btr-boundary-commission-to-submit-report-within-august-15/ | title=Assam: BTR boundary commission to submit report within August 15 | date=February 2021 }}</ref> On 26 January 2023, Assam Chief Minister ] have decided to include 60 more villages which have at least 80% ] in the Bodoland Territorial Region, in order to make Bodo-speakers a slight majority.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/others/60-more-villages-to-get-included-in-bodo-council-says-assam-cm-101674747248806.html | title=60 more villages to get included in Bodo council, says Assam CM | date=26 January 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/assam-to-include-60-new-villages-in-btr/cid/1912347 | title=Assam to include 60 new villages in BTR }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/amp/topheadlines/process-to-include-98-villages-in-bodoland-territorial-region-underway-633631 | title=Process to include 98 villages in Bodoland Territorial Region underway - Sentinelassam | date=19 January 2023 }}</ref> | |||
Bodoland will also have the right to autonomously be represented at national level sports and cultural events such as the ] and the ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indusscrolls.com/what-is-bodo-peace-accord-read-the-full-text-of-draft-bodo-treaty/|title=What is Bodo Peace Accord? Read the full text of Draft Bodo Treaty|first=Ananta Ram|last=Bharati|date=28 January 2020|work=Indus Scrolls|access-date=3 December 2020}}</ref> The agreement also makes the Bodo language with Devnagri script an associate official language of Assam. | |||
==Government and politics== | |||
===Bodoland Territorial Council=== | |||
{{main|Bodoland Territorial Council}} | |||
The region is administered by an elected body known as the ] (BTC) which was established according to the Memorandum of Settlement of 10 February 2003. BTC came into existence immediately after the surrender of ] (BLTF). The BLTF laid down their weapons on 6 December 2003 under the leadership of ] and Shri Hagrama Mohilary was sworn in as the ] (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 ] which are further subdivided into 10 Civil Subdivisions and 40 Development Blocks.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://bodoland.in/index.php/2016-02-26-07-47-07/48-bodoland-at-a-glance|title=About Bodoland|date=2 December 2018|website=www.bodoland.in}}</ref> | |||
The area and population of these districts has been estimated as follows: | |||
As per Memorandum of Settlement in the tripartite talks in the year 2003, 40 subjects have been entrusted to the BTC Authority for all round development of the people in this area. Subjects include the Tribal Research Institute, Lotteries and Theatres, Intoxicating Liquors, and Registration of Births and Deaths. The entire area covered under the BTC has been recognized with Kokrjhar as an original district and forming other new districts thus totaling four districts in the BTC Area. The area under those four district has been estimated as follows: | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
! |
! No | ||
! Name |
! Name | ||
! Area |
! Area (km<sup>2</sup>) | ||
! Population (census 2011) | ! Population (census 2011) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 1 |
| 1 | ||
| ] | | ] | ||
| |
| style="text-align:right;"|3,169 | ||
| 887,142 | | 887,142 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2 | | 2 | ||
| ] | | ] | ||
| |
| style="text-align:right;"|1,974 | ||
| 482,162 | | 482,162 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 3 | | 3 | ||
| ] |
| ] | ||
| |
| style="text-align:right;"|1,573 | ||
| |
| 560,925 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 4 | | 4 | ||
| ] | | ] | ||
| |
| style="text-align:right;" |2,012 | ||
| 831,668 | | 831,668 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | 5 | ||
| ] | |||
| style="text-align:right;" |884 | |||
| 389,150 | |||
|- | |||
| | |||
| ''Total'' | | ''Total'' | ||
| |
| style="text-align:right;"|9,612 | ||
| 3,151,047 | | 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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bharati |first1=Ananta Ram |title=What is Bodo Peace Accord? Read the full text of Draft Bodo Treaty |url=https://indusscrolls.com/what-is-bodo-peace-accord-read-the-full-text-of-draft-bodo-treaty/ |access-date=3 February 2021 |work=Indus Scrolls |date=28 January 2020}}</ref> In January 2022, ] was created by separating the Tamulpur sub-division from ].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-24|title=Assam Govt Forms Tamulpur As New District In State|url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/north-east-india-news/assam-news/assam-govt-forms-tamulpur-as-new-district-in-state-574587 | |||
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bodoland.in/jaores/index.php?option%3Dcom_content%26view%3Darticle%26id%3D72%3Abodoland-at-a-glance%26catid%3D25%3Athe-profile%26Itemid%3D45 |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-12-01 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130315123126/http://bodoland.in:80/jaores/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=72:bodoland-at-a-glance&catid=25:the-profile&Itemid=45 |archivedate=2013-03-15 |df= }}</ref> | |||
|access-date=2022-01-24|website=www.sentinelassam.com|language=en}}</ref> | |||
; The proposed new districts created from districts currently within the Bodoland region are: | |||
==Demand for a homeland== | |||
* ] district, from ] | |||
The Tibeto-Burman speakers settled in Assam<ref name="ReferenceA">"The second group of migrants came to Assam from the north, north-east and east. They are mostly the Tibeto-Burman language speaking people" {{harv|Taher|2001|p=12}}</ref> after the Austro-Asiatic speakers,<ref name="Taher 2001 12">"The first group of migrants to settle in this part of the country is perhaps the Austro-Asiatic language speaking people who came here from South-East Asia a few millennia before Christ." {{harv|Taher|2001|p=12}}</ref> and they were in turn followed by Indo-Aryan speakers.<ref name="Taher 2011 12">"From about the fifth century before Christ, there started a trickle of migration of the people speaking Indo-Aryan language from the Gangetic plain." {{harv|Taher|2011|p=12}}</ref> Most of the rulers in Assam prior to the advent of the British were non-Indo-Aryan speakers who had ] to some extent.<ref>"Virtually all of Assam’s kings, from the fourth-century Varmans down to the eighteenth-century Ahoms, came from non-Aryan tribes that were only gradually Sanskritised." {{harv|Urban|2011|p=234}}</ref> At the time of Indian Independence, there existed a number of ethnic groups that were Sanskritized to varying degrees, and the Bodos were one of them. | |||
* ] district, from ] | |||
; The proposed new districts created from districts currently outside the Bodoland region are: | |||
Compared to other parts of India, such as ] and ], opportunity for general and mass education came to North East India only after Indian independence (1947). Following Indian independence, the Bodos were given the opportunity to take advantage of ] (ST) status. This process lead to the creation of tribal belts and blocks, protected lands meant for farming and grazing, specifically for the ]. However, the list of ST in Assam continues to grow. There are a sizable number of indigenous community who are claiming ST or SC status. | |||
* ] district, from ] | |||
* ] district, from ] and ] | |||
==Geography== | |||
==Plains Tribals Council of Assam== | |||
In the early 1960s the ] (PTCA), a political party representing Bodos and other plains tribals of Assam realized that tribal belts and blocks were gradually being acquired by rich landlords or new immigrants through illegal means. Moreover, Bodos had little or no access to economic aid that was given by the central government. Without economic package to the Bodo dominated areas, education was a distant cry. In those days, there were hardly any roads and other infrastructures that connected Bodo dominated area to the main cities of ]. These were the reasons for which, in 1967, PTCA demanded a Union Territory called ], to be carved out of Assam. The proposed Udayachal map included mainly those areas that was known as tribal belts and blocks. The creation of tribal belts and blocks (for scheduled-tribes) was a mechanism to protect farming and grazing lands mainly from rich landlord and illegal immigrants. The demand for Udayachal never materialized. Due to persistent apathy of successive governments towards Bodo community, by the end of the 1970s it became clear that Bodos had a little or no influence in the Indian political process. Specifically, in ] Bodos areas were very much neglected. Often the financial packages meant for tribal-development were diverted and misused. For similar reasons, Khasis and Garos, carved out ] from Assam. In the late 1980s, All Bodo Students' Union's (]) became very concerned about decades of neglect and apathy by the subsequent state government towards the Bodo community. ABSU and Bodo political parties jointly demanded a separate state, called Bodoland. Which is in process]. They equally want to contribute in the development of their nation. | |||
The geographical boundary of the BTR lies between 26° 7<nowiki>'12'' N to 26° 47' 50'' N Latitude and 89° 47' 40'' E to 92° 18' 30'' E Longitude and is in the Northwestern part of Assam. Kokrajhar town the Administrative Head Quarter lies roughly between 26° 25' N latitude and 90° 16' 38''</nowiki> E Longitude. | |||
==All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU)== | |||
The official Bodoland Movement<ref>George, Sudhir Jacob (1994) '''', Asian Survey '''34'''(10) pp. 878-892</ref> for an independent state of Bodoland started on March 2, 1987 under the leadership of ] of the ] (ABSU).After Upendra Brahma,an Assam revolution member himself when denied ticket to contest loksabha election, returned home to create a separatist group with the intension to move Bodos away from Assam. The ABSU created a political organization, the Bodo Peoples' Action Committee (BPAC), to spearhead the movement. The ABSU/BPAC movement began with the slogan "Divide Assam 50-50". The ABSU/BPAC leadership of the movement ended with the bipartite Bodo Accord<ref>Bodo Accord, February 20, 1993, signed by ], ] and ].</ref> of February 20, 1993 and the creation of the BAC. The accord soon collapsed amidst a vertical split in ABSU and other Bodo political parties brought about mainly by the split between ] and Premsingh Brahma, and violence erupted in Bodo areas leading to a displacement of over 70,000 people. | |||
Its strategic location is blessed with beautiful forests full of flora and fauna.<ref name=":1" /> | |||
== Bodo students plights== | |||
Despite the Bodo accord, Bodo people still claim they are neglected by the Indian Government, with no economic improvement evident in Bodo dominated areas. Lately, there have been signs of efforts to improve these situations by the Assam Government. However, there are thousands of people still languishing in refugee camps in very poor conditions, which includes both Bodos and non-Bodos. Although dozen of roads have been repaired in last few years, hundreds of bridges and other infrastructures remain in somewhat neglected condition. The national highway is in the process of expansion. Whether the creation of BTC (BTAD) will address the issues of Bodo self-determination remains an open question.<ref>Prabhakar M. S. (2003) '''' Frontline, 20:24, November 22, 2003</ref> | |||
==Economy== | |||
] | |||
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 ]. | |||
===Tourism=== | |||
Tourism in the region is regulated by the department of Bodoland Tourism. ] is the major tourist attraction of the region. It also has many wildlife sanctuaries, reserve forests, site seeings, picnic spots, and events.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bodolandtourism.org|title=Bodoland Tourism|website=www.bodolandtourism.org|access-date=26 March 2017}}</ref> | |||
====Manas National Park==== | |||
{{main|Manas National Park}} | |||
] | |||
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 ]. The Park also has a recorded count of 36 species of reptiles and 476 species of birds. The Park is home for ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and many other Reptiles, Birds and Insects including some highly endangered species like ], ] & ]. 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 ], Bodoland Territorial Council, WWF-India, ], and US Fish and Wildlife Service. | |||
====Gethsemane Man-made Forest==== | |||
{{Main|Bhairabkunda}} | |||
Situated in ]'s ], it is a forest-grown entirely by local ] of 35 members with the help of Forest department of Assam.<ref>{{cite web|title=Afforestation changes life and landscape: How a district in Assam lost a forest, gained a future|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/afforestation-changes-life-and-landscape-how-a-district-in-assam-lost-a-forest-gained-a-future-4997615/|date=25 December 2017|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US|access-date=15 May 2020}}</ref> Spread across more than 6 km<sup>2</sup>, the forest contains more than 1.4 million plus trees of over 35 varieties. A number of animals, birds and reptiles<ref>{{cite news |title=Man-made forest houses rare flying snake |url=http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/mdetails.asp?id=apr0616/state051 |access-date=4 December 2020 |work=The Assam Tribune Online}}</ref> can also be spotted in the area. Visitors can trek through the trail in the forest and stay the night in their guest house.<ref>{{cite news |title=New tourist guest house at Bhairabkunda |url=https://www.assamtimes.org/node/12351 |access-date=4 December 2020 |work=Assam Times |date=17 November 2014 |language=en}}</ref> | |||
====Trekking of Baukungri Hill==== | |||
{{Main|Baukungri Hajw Gakhwnai}} | |||
Baukungri hill trekking is an adventurous event held annually in ], ]. It is organised every year on first day of the year according to the Bodo calendar which falls in mid April.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.arunachal24.in/kokrajhar-three-day-baokhungri-festival-begins/|title=Kokrajhar- Three Day Baokhungri festival Begins|date=12 April 2017|work=Arunachal24.in|access-date=13 April 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
==Demographics== | ==Demographics== | ||
{{ |
{{Pie chart | ||
|thumb = right | |||
|title=Religion in Bodoland Territorial Council<ref name=drk> Ministry of Minority Affairs, Govt of India</ref> | |||
|caption = Religions in Bodoland (2011)<ref name="Religion">Bodoland University | |||
|titlebar=#F6F6F6 | |||
http://buniv.edu.in › contentPDF | |||
|left1=Religion | |||
Bodoland International Knowledge Festival and Religion, 2023</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/assams-religious-demography-data-census-2011-may-come-shocker-1695169.html | title=Assam's religious demography data in census 2011 may come as a shocker | date=3 September 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/bodoland-peoples-front-chief-raises-religious-conversion-issue-in-letter-to-pm/articleshow/95586467.cms | title=Bodoland People's Front chief raises religious conversion issue in letter to PM | newspaper=The Economic Times | date=17 November 2022 | last1=Singh | first1=Bikash }}</ref> | |||
|label1 = ] | |||
|value1 = 71.25 | |||
|color1 = Orange | |||
|label2 = ] | |||
|value2 = 19.25 | |||
|color2 = Green | |||
|label3 = ] | |||
|value3 = 9.25 | |||
|color3 = Blue | |||
|label4 = Others | |||
|value4 = 0.25 | |||
|color4 = Red | |||
}}{{bar box | |||
|title=Language in Bodoland (2011 Census)<ref> Census India</ref> | |||
|titlebar=#Fcd116 | |||
|left1=Language | |||
|right1=Percent | |right1=Percent | ||
|float= |
|float=left | ||
|bars= | |bars= | ||
{{bar percent| |
{{bar percent|]|red|30.4}} | ||
{{bar percent|]|pink|25.5}} | |||
{{bar percent| |
{{bar percent|]|blue|20.4}} | ||
{{bar percent| |
{{bar percent|]|yellow|5.3}} | ||
{{bar percent| |
{{bar percent|]|grey|3.3}} | ||
{{bar percent|]|Orange|3.1}} | |||
{{bar percent|]|black|1.4}} | |||
{{bar percent|]|black|1.2}} | |||
{{bar percent|"Others" under Assamese|grey|1.1}} | |||
{{bar percent|]|pink|1}} | |||
{{bar percent|Others|violet|7.3}} | |||
}} | }} | ||
Bodos form around 32%(including Boro,Rabha,Sarania,Mahaliya,Modahi Tribes of greater Bodo group) of the population in the four districts of Bodoland Territorial Administrative Districts (BTAD). The rest of the population comprises:<ref></ref> | |||
=== Population === | |||
* Bengali-speaking Muslims, who form 19% of the total population. | |||
] constitute the largest Tribal group in the region numbering around 1.2 million (31.5%) followed by Bangla-speaking ], who form the largest minority group as per 2011 Census.<ref name="economictimes_assam">{{cite web|url=https://m.economictimes.com/assam-violence-chief-reasons-behind-the-rivalry/bodos-say-most-muslim-settlers-are-illegal-migrants/amp_slideshow/15570061.cms|title=Bodos say most Muslim settlers are illegal migrants – Assam violence: Chief reasons behind the rivalry |work=The Economic Times|access-date=3 December 2020}}</ref> The population of BTC area as per 2011 Census report is 3.2 million out which the ST{{clarify|date=August 2020}} population is around 38% 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, and others Indigenous tribes like Rabha, Sarania-Kachari, Modahi-Kachari and less quantity of Assamese speaking SC caste Kaibarta, Hira, Bania are inhabiting in this area.<ref name="economictimes_assam"/> The other ethnic groups like ] speaking Koch-Rajbanshi, Nath-Jogi, Kalita, Sutradhar are inhabiting in large part of BTC. Adivasi communities including ], Oraon etc. are also available in sizeable numbers. Moreover, other general communities like ethnic Assamese Muslim like Garia, Maria and ](Uzani) and large number of Bengali speaking Miya Muslim and Bengali Hindu people, ] and few numbers of Hindi speaking people are also found in the Council area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bodoland.gov.in/btcataglance.html|title=Bodoland Territorial Council {{!}} Kokrajhar|website=bodoland.gov.in|access-date=28 March 2017|archive-date=12 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212204056/http://bodoland.gov.in/btcataglance.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
* Adivasi communities, including Santhals, Gonds and Kurukh, who form 17% of the total population. | |||
* Koch Rajbongshis, who form 16% of the total population. | |||
==Transportation== | |||
* Other communities, including Bengali Hindus, Nepalis, Caste Assamese, who form 16% of the total population. | |||
{{Main|Transport in Bodoland}} | |||
==Culture== | |||
{{Main|Bodo culture}} | |||
] | |||
] | |||
The Bodos have a distinct culture from the rest of the world, ranging from dance and music to festivals and attires. | |||
==Sports== | |||
] is popular in the region with clubs like ], competing in ];<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bodoland FC in Durand Cup|url=https://www.indiansuperleague.com/news/durand-cup-2023-mumbai-city-fc-take-on-indian-navy-ft-odisha-fc-face-bodoland-fc-test |website=indiansuperleague.com}}</ref> and ] playing in the fourth tier of Indian football, ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chirang Duar in I-League 3|url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/amp/story/sports-news/local-sports/united-chirang-duar-football-club-all-set-to-play-i-league-674556 |website=sentinelassam.com}}</ref> Many clubs from the region also participate in the state football league. | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*] | * ] | ||
*] | * ] | ||
*] | * ] | ||
*] | * ] | ||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
{{Clear}} | |||
== |
==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
== |
==Bibliography== | ||
{{refbegin}} | {{refbegin|30em}} | ||
* {{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.463813/page/n71/mode/2up|title=Assam District Gazetteers-kamrup Vol. 4|last=Allen|first=B.C|publisher=The Pioneer Press, Allahabad|year=1905}} | |||
* {{Citation |ref=harv |last=Taher |first=M |chapter=Assam: An Introduction |year=2001 |title=Geography of Assam |editor-last=Bhagawati |editor-first=A K |volume = |pages=1–17 |place=New Delhi |publisher=Rajesh Publications |id = }} | |||
* {{Cite thesis|last=Brahma|first=Nirjay Kumar|date=2008|title=Socio political institutions in Bodo society|type=PhD|chapter=Introduction: Interpretation of Bodo or Boro|publisher=Gauhati University|degree=PhD|hdl=10603/66535}} | |||
* {{cite journal |ref=harv |last1=Urban |first1=Hugh B. |year=2011 |title=The Womb of Tantra: Goddesses, Tribals, and Kings in Assam |journal=The Journal of Hindu Studies |volume=4 |issue= |pages=231–247 |publisher= |doi=10.1093/jhs/hir034 |url= }}<!--|accessdate=14 February 2013--> | |||
* {{Cite thesis|last=Das|first=Smriti|date=1998|title=Assam Bhutan relations with special reference to duars from 1681 to 1949|type=PhD|publisher=Guwahati University|url=https://ir.nbu.ac.in/handle/123456789/195|hdl=10603/67909|access-date=22 May 2022|archive-date=16 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316100526/https://ir.nbu.ac.in/handle/123456789/195|url-status=dead}} | |||
{{refend}} | |||
* {{Cite thesis|last=Deka|first=Hira Moni|date=2009|title=Politics of identity and the bodo movement in Assam|type=PhD|chapter=The Historical Background of Bodo Movement|publisher=Gauhati University|degree=PhD|hdl=10603/67844}} | |||
* {{Cite journal |last=George |first=Sudhir Jacob |year=1994|title=The Bodo Movement in Assam: Unrest to Accord |journal=Asian Survey |volume=34 |issue=10 |pages=878–892 |doi=10.2307/2644967 |jstor=2644967}} | |||
* {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ECxUOSudNGYC|last=Nath|first=D.|title=History of the Koch Kingdom, C. 1515-1615|publisher=Mittal Publications|year=1989|isbn=8170991099}} | |||
* {{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=flRuAAAAMAAJ|title=The Bodo Imbroglio|last=Roy|first=Ajoy|publisher=Spectrum Publications|year=1995|isbn=8185319588}} | |||
* {{Cite book |last1=Dikshit |first1=K. R. |last2=Dikshit |first2=Jutta K. |title=North-East India: Land, People and Economy |date=2013 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-94-007-7055-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iorHBAAAQBAJ |pages=375–376 }} | |||
* {{Cite book |last1=Phuntsho |first1=Karma |title=The History of Bhutan |date=2013 |publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=9781908323583}} | |||
* {{cite journal |last1=Phukan |first1=J N |title=Ahom-Bhutan Relations with Specific Reference to Royal Bhutanese Embassy Visiting Ahom Capital in 1801 |journal=Journal of Bhutan Studies |year=2014 |url=http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/jbs/pdf/JBS_30_03.pdf |volume=30 |number=Summer 2014 }} | |||
{{Refend}} | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
* | * | ||
* | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* , Times of Assam | |||
{{Proposed states and territories of India}} | |||
{{Navboxes|list= | |||
{{coord|26|24|00|N|90|16|12|E|source:kolossus-ruwiki|display=title}} | |||
{{Autonomous administrative divisions of India}} | |||
{{Proposed states and territories of India}} | |||
{{Hill tribes of Northeast India}} | |||
{{Assam}} | |||
}} | |||
] | ] | ||
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Latest revision as of 01:54, 21 December 2024
This article is about the autonomous region. For the council which controls the region, see Bodoland Territorial Council.Autonomous Administrative Region in Assam, India
Bodoland Territorial Region | |
---|---|
Autonomous Administrative Region | |
Seal | |
Motto(s): "Truth Alone Triumphs" Slogan: "For Peace and Development" | |
Bodoland Territorial Region Within India | |
Coordinates: 26°42′N 91°05′E / 26.700°N 91.083°E / 26.700; 91.083 | |
Country | India |
State | Assam |
Established | February 9, 2003; 21 years ago (2003-02-09) |
Capital | Kokrajhar |
Districts | 5 |
Government | |
• Type | Autonomous Administrative Region |
• Body | Bodoland Territorial Council |
• Chief Executive | Pramod Boro |
• Deputy Chief Executive | Gobinda Basumatary |
• Speaker | Katiram Boro |
Area | |
• Total | 8,970 km (3,460 sq mi) |
Population | |
• Total | 3,155,359 |
• Density | 350/km (910/sq mi) |
Languages | |
• Official | Bodo, English |
Time zone | UTC+05:30 (IST) |
Website | bodoland |
The Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) is an autonomous division in Assam, India, and a proposed state in Northeast India. It is made up of five districts on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River below 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.
Etymology of Bodoland
See also: Boro people § Etymology of BoroThe 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. 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, ending with the Bodo Accord of 1993 with the formation of Bodoland Autonomous Council. 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
See also: Protected tribal belts and blocks in Assam and Dooars Bodoland is Mech or Bârâ region of North bank, as reported in the Language Survey of India 1903Originally a part of Bhutan, this region came under the control of Koch king Vishwa Singha in the early 16th century. Around 1562, the successor king Nara Narayan determined that the Meches and Koches 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. After the split of the Koch kingdom and 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. Following the Battle of Itakhuli in 1681 the Ahom kingdom consolidated their rule up to the Manas river in the west and the region north of the Gohain Kamal Ali, divided into different Duars, fell into its possession. The Ahoms soon faced trouble from the Bhutanese, in the form of incursions, raids, and violent opposition, beginning about 1688, to tax collection by the Ahoms. Eventually these clashes came to an end with a written agreement.
Duars between Sankosh river and Manas River were collectively known as the Eastern Duars, those between Manas River and Barnadi River were collectively known as Kamrup Duars, and those between Barnadi River and Dhansiri River were collectively known as Darrang Duars. The duars to the west of Goalpara were called Western Duars.
The Duars in the Goalpara region (which was outside the Ahom kingdom) were under Bhutan's control, but the administration of the Duars to east were shared between Bhutan or Tibet and the Ahom kingdom under different mechanisms. The Duars in the Kamrup region followed the posa system in which the Bhutanese were given possession of the duars in lieu of an annual payment; and those in the Darrang region were alternately controlled by the Bhutanese and the Ahoms in an annual cycle. The Bhutanese control over these regions were via local authorities, not ethnic Bhutanese, who were appointed by Bhutanese provincial governors called Ponlops
After the British took control of Ahom kingdom in 1826, they maintained the Ahom-Bhutan arrangement for a while but the payments made in kind and the shared administration were something the colonial administration was unwilling to maintain and annexed the Kamrup and Darrang Duars in 1841 and the Kariapar Duar in 1844; and following the Duar War in 1865 took complete possession of the Duars and removed Bhutanese interest from the Goalpara and Western Duars for good. The duars associated with the historical regions of Goalpara, Kamrup, and Darrang were then added to these districts.
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 migrants 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 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. On the other hand, it is also claimed as a sovereign state (complete independence from India) by the separatist insurgent group NDFB.
1993 and 2003 peace agreements
Following an agreement in 1993, Bodoland became an autonomous administrative unit constituted under the Sixth Schedule area of the Constitution of India covering an area of 8,795 km 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. 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. 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. On 26 January 2023, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma have decided to include 60 more villages which have at least 80% Bodo population in the Bodoland Territorial Region, in order to make Bodo-speakers a slight majority.
Bodoland will also have the right to autonomously be represented at national level sports and cultural events such as the National Games of India and the Khelo India Youth Games. 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 CouncilThe 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 Shri Hagrama Mohilary 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 five districts which are further subdivided into 10 Civil Subdivisions and 40 Development Blocks.
The area and population of these districts has been estimated as follows:
No | Name | Area (km) | Population (census 2011) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Kokrajhar | 3,169 | 887,142 |
2 | Chirang | 1,974 | 482,162 |
3 | Baksa | 1,573 | 560,925 |
4 | Udalguri | 2,012 | 831,668 |
5 | Tamulpur | 884 | 389,150 |
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. In January 2022, Tamulpur district was created by separating the Tamulpur sub-division from Baksa district.
- The proposed new districts created from districts currently within the Bodoland region are
- Gossaigaon district, from Kokrajhar district
- Bhergaon district, from Udalguri district
- The proposed new districts created from districts currently outside the Bodoland region are
- Mainaosri district, from Sonitpur district
- Holongi district, from Biswanath district and Lakhimpur district
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 Northwestern 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 full of flora and fauna.
Economy
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.
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.
Manas National Park
Main article: Manas National ParkManas, 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: BhairabkundaSituated in Udalguri's Bhairabkunda, it is a forest-grown entirely by local JFMC of 35 members with the help of Forest department of Assam. Spread across more than 6 km, the forest contains more than 1.4 million plus trees of over 35 varieties. A number of animals, birds and reptiles can also be spotted in the area. Visitors can trek through the trail in the forest and stay the night in their guest house.
Trekking of Baukungri Hill
Main article: Baukungri Hajw GakhwnaiBaukungri hill trekking is an adventurous event held annually in Kokrajhar, Bodoland Territorial Council. It is organised every year on first day of the year according to the Bodo calendar which falls in mid April.
Demographics
Religions in Bodoland (2011)
Hinduism (71.25%) Islam (19.25%) Christianity (9.25%) Others (0.25%)Language in Bodoland (2011 Census) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Language | Percent | |||
Bodo | 30.4% | |||
Assamese | 25.5% | |||
Bengali | 20.4% | |||
Santali | 5.3% | |||
Nepali | 3.3% | |||
Rajbongshi | 3.1% | |||
Kurukh | 1.4% | |||
Hindi | 1.2% | |||
"Others" under Assamese | 1.1% | |||
Rabha | 1% | |||
Others | 7.3% |
Population
Bodos constitute the largest Tribal group in the region numbering around 1.2 million (31.5%) followed by Bangla-speaking Miya people, who form the largest minority group as per 2011 Census. The population of BTC area as per 2011 Census report is 3.2 million out which the ST population is around 38% 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, and others Indigenous tribes like Rabha, Sarania-Kachari, Modahi-Kachari and less quantity of Assamese speaking SC caste Kaibarta, Hira, Bania are inhabiting in this area. The other ethnic groups like Kamatapuri speaking Koch-Rajbanshi, Nath-Jogi, Kalita, Sutradhar are inhabiting in large part of BTC. Adivasi communities including Santhal, Oraon etc. are also available in sizeable numbers. Moreover, other general communities like ethnic Assamese Muslim like Garia, Maria and Deshi(Uzani) and large number of Bengali speaking Miya Muslim and Bengali Hindu people, Gorkha and few numbers of Hindi speaking people are also found in the Council area.
Transportation
Main article: Transport in BodolandCulture
Main article: Bodo cultureThe Bodos have a distinct culture from the rest of the world, ranging from dance and music to festivals and attires.
Sports
Football is popular in the region with clubs like Bodoland FC, competing in Durand Cup; and United Chirang Duar FC playing in the fourth tier of Indian football, I-League 3. Many clubs from the region also participate in the state football league.
See also
- Bodo Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council
- Bodo people
- Bodo culture
- Bodo language
- Bodo Sahitya Sabha
- 2012 Assam violence
- Hill tribes of Northeast India
- North Eastern Council
References
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- "(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)
- "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)
- "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)
- "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)
- " further instructed the Meches and Koches 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)
- Naranarayan placed an image of Goddess Durga and appointed a Kachari as its priest. He then collected all the Bhutias of Duars, the Kacharis and Meches living between the Bhutan hills and the Gohain Kamal Ali and ordered that the former could follow their tribal custom in the territory upto the Gohain Kamal Ali.(Das 1998:31–32)
- "Taking advantage of , the Bhutias pushed their southern boundary towards the plains and occupied the land upto the Gohain Kamal Ali." (Das 1998:13)
- "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)
- "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)
- "As a result, they are said to have harassed the population along the Assam frontiers with persistent incursions and raids."(Phuntsho 2013:394)
- ^ (Phukan 2014:65)
- "The Kamrup duars were Bijni, Chapakhamar, Chapaguri, Baksa and Gharkola." (Phukan 2014:63)
- (Das 1998:26)
- "The two Darrang duars were Bariguma and Killing." (Phukan 2014:63)
- Das (1998, p. 32)
- "While Bhutan generally enjoyed absolute possession of the eleven Bengal duars, its control over the seven Assam duars was not straightforward. Even during the Ahom rule, the Bhutanese did not gain full possession of the duar tracts. As a result, they are said to have harassed the population along the Assam frontiers with persistent incursions and raids." (Phuntsho 2013:394)
- "In order to avoid these violent attacks, the Ahom rulers gave possession of the five duar tracts along the Kamrup district to Bhutan in exchange for an annual payment. The payment included about thirty-seven tola of gold, thirty-seven bags of musk, thirty-seven yak tails, thirty-seven daggers, thirty-seven blankets, fifty-seven ponies and about 4785 Narrainee rupees in cash in total." (Phuntsho 2013:394)
- "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 15th of June to the 15th of October)." (Das 1998:30)
- (Phuntsho 2013:394)
- "This arrangement between Bhutan and Ahom rulers of control over the seven Assam duars continued with the British after their annexation of Assam in 1826." (Phuntsho 2013:395)
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{{cite news}}
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