< PreviousThe Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2019 will provide greater autonomy to tribals and indigenous communities. In my brief journey, first as a student activist from Northeast India working for peace, education and other socio-political rights, and presently as an incumbent Chief of a Sixth Schedule Council of India, I have seen that the transformation in approach and the thinking of the government has become more pronounced under the present leadership. For instance, only a clear vision and strong political will could have led to concrete steps for the future of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in particular and for the nation as a whole. Revoking Article 370 and 35A ushered in the dawn of an era of peace, prosperity, stability and hope for the region of Jammu- Kashmir and Ladakh. Article 370 which now stands abrogated will always remain a dark chapter in our country’s history. The people of Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh witnessed conflicts, violence and bloodshed as a result of a faultline that existed for more than seven decades after India’s Independence. Even though the region is blessed with breathtaking landscape and rich cultural heritage, and in true essence is the “Crown of Bharat” it could not enjoy the fruits of peace, harmony and co-existence. The impact 22 Promises and reality (Originally published in The Assam Tribune on 11 th August 2024) 130Chapter 22 of cross-border terrorism became the biggest obstacle in the path of complete integration of the state with the rest of India. The peace-loving people of the heavenly valley of Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh were in a dark period due to Article 370. Leaders came and leaders went: the foundational issue yet remained unresolved for decades, till at last, the confluence of vision, will and commitment of the present government ended the matter resolutely. Another milestone achieved by the present government is the positive change and transformation in Northeast India. It has dealt with the multi-dimensional issues of North East India with openness and trust, as against earlier policy of imposition of draconian laws and ordinances. No Prime Minister had ever frequented the region like Modi, while no Home Minister had ever been closer home there. For decades, the States in north-east India suffered negligence and deprivations in all aspects of social, political and economic development which resulted in widespread political turmoil and instability, and conflicts and violence. Since April 2022, the number of “disturbed areas” under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur, has drastically reduced. The recent conflict(s) that erupted in Manipur is much undesired. It came at a time when the Northeast as a whole was moving towards peace and harmony after decades of conflicts and violence. A number of peace settlements and accords have crystallised in Northeast India in the last four years due to Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a peaceful and prosperous North-East, and the astute leadership of the Union Home Minister Amit Shah. This has augured peace and harmonious co-existence in previously disturbed areas of Northeast India. Giving equal space of development to all people including the people from the ten Sixth Schedule Areas through the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2019 is a welcome proposition. This Bill seeks to provide greater autonomy for social, 131Chapter 22 cultural and economic development of marginalised tribal and indigenous communities within the constitutional framework of India. It aims to augment legislative, administrative and financial powers of the 6th Schedule Councils of India by making necessary constitutional amendments. The streamlining and calibration of various institutions, processes and mechanisms through this Bill will ensure strengthening of democratic institutions in far-flung and often-overlooked tribal areas in peripheral India. Further, it will ensure greater appreciation of the rich diversity of languages, faiths, creeds and cultures by providing autonomy in several transferred subjects. Even though the 125th Amendment Bill is not going to fulfil all aspirations of the tribal-indigenous communities, it serves as yet another milestone on the offer for ensuring development and smooth functioning of administration in the Sixth-Schedule Regions. While it will foster and provide the impetus to positive changes in Northeast India, this Bill is key to connecting the region with the hearts of rest of India!A moment captured with my colleagues during the Mass Gathering held at Udangshrini Alari Premsingh Brahma Playground, Kajalgaon (Chirang), demanding the Separate State of Bodoland, organized jointly by the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), NDFB (P) and Peoples Joint Action Committee for Bodoland Movement (PJACBM) on the 23rd September 2018. Addressing a public rally during the Bodoland MovementThe peaceful event received wide media attention and coverage. The Movement used creative cultural expressions to voice out the concerns of the people of Bodoland. A moment of action: a public call by the All Bodo Students Union to “Awake, Arise, Listen and Solve our Problems”. With my colleagues, organizing an "Open Meeting: Social Awareness on Quality Education, Development and Violence Free Society" on the 3rd of December 2009 at Kokrajhar. The event was jointly organized by multiple students' unions, namely, ABSU, ARSU, TMPK, ADSU, AASKSU, GSU, TYCP and KSA. I addressed the rally calling for peace, end to prevalence of illegal arms, ensuring of quality education and overall development of the people of Bodoland by ending the apathy and neglect. A public procession was also carried out with slogans resounding through the heart of Kokrajhar town.With Dr. Sunil Kaul and colleagues signing a pledge to ensure “Quality Education, Development and Violence Free Society” We also symbolically released balloons on the occasion calling for peace, end to illegal arms, and resolution of all issues in our society.As part of the social reformation movement alongside the demand for a Separate State of Bodoland, we carried out a long-cycle-rally through the length and breadth of Bodoland Region awakening consciousness among our communities to aspire, adopt and beget Quality Education, and a violence-free society. In photo: moments captured during the rally. Several stopover awareness campaigns and rallies were held along the route of the long-cycle-rally. I highlighted the ideals of Bodofa and the need for our generations to take up pens and books by ending all illegal arms and social evils in our society. In photos: public awareness meetings at the Dwimalu Ground and another venue.With Dr. P. Chidambaram, the then Home Minister of India. ABSU submitted a memorandum calling for immediate end to violence and killings in Bodoland region, and to resolve the issues of the people of Bodoland region by creation of the separate state of Bodoland. Various glimpses of the sessions of Annual Conference of the All Bodo Students Union during my Presidentship.Next >