< Previous 29Chapter 1 Whether due to lack of political will, bureaucratic inertia, or fear of backlash, the result was the same: poor and helpless people were left to fend for themselves. This is not an isolated phenomenon, though. Across the world, from Rwanda to Sri Lanka, we have seen how state inaction—or worse, biased action—can deepen divides. In Bodoland, I could see that the absence of institutional empathy turned a manageable situation into a humanitarian crisis. Moreover, the media, intellectuals, and religious institutions—who could have played a role in calming tensions—often chose sides which, unfortunately, did not help anyone. Healing is possible: What the World Can Learn from Bodoland Despite the devastation, the Bodo Peace Accord 2020, signed between the Government of India, the Assam government, and Bodo organizations led by the NDFB, ABSU and the UBPO marked a significant milestone. It signaled a shift—from armed struggle to democratic dialogue. Yet, peace is not achieved by signing papers. It is built in our minds. In homes, classrooms, community halls, and everyday lived spaces. True peace is not the absence of conflict—it is the presence of justice, dignity, and dialogue. After we formed the BTR Government in 2020, one of the first initiatives was the Bodoland Happiness Mission. This grassroots program focuses on emotional healing, trauma counseling, and community dialogue. Survivors of the 2012 riots, like Abdul, Raju, Somaina (names changed), who once harbored thoughts of revenge, have now become peace volunteers. Through storytelling, mindfulness sessions, and active listening, the Mission has helped thousands find their voice again. Women, in particular, have emerged as powerful agents of peace in Bodoland region. Trained in conflict resolution and emotional intelligence, they now lead sessions in villages, helping others process grief and rebuild trust through workshops, training programmes and healing sessions. On reflection, I realize that Bodoland’s journey from insurgency to institution-building offers several universal lessons. We learnt 30Chapter 1 that inter-community dialogue is the first step to peace. It entails creating safe and non-threatening spaces for conversation, especially among youth. As real change, transformation and healing come from and within the affected communities, only localized peace-building can sustain peace and harmony. Our formal institutions: health, education and financial should hand out empathy and inclusion aplenty. In a polarized world, those who speak for peace often find themselves standing alone. They need allies. Taking cue from the repetition of cycles of conflicts since centuries, we should adopt/take pre-emptive measures and initiatives. We cannot but teach to our children and students about the disastrous effects and impact of conflict. Reconciliation, healing and harmonious co-existence among the communities are not rocket sciences. I have faith, as history has shown, time and again, that these are achieved by love, respect and care. We should teach our children and students to love, care, be generous and compassionate. Every university must have the department of conflict resolution and peace. This should not be optional—it is foundational. In Bodoland, we have seen the worst of what societal divisions can do. But we have also glimpsed the best of what unity can achieve. The road ahead is long, but the direction is clear. Taking this road— let us walk together— for a Bodoland that is better in the present as well as the future!Sure enough, the people of Bodoland were at a crossroad during that point in time. In general, crossroads present us with new opportunities, hopes and aspirations. When at crossroads, persons, communities and nations also face the greater challenge of making the right decision, going in the right direction and overcoming the fear of freedom that are on offer. I feel happy and grateful that the people of BTR made the right decision, 2 Journeying Beyond a Crossroad My thoughts on Peaceful, Safe and Resilient Bodoland 32Chapter 2 took the correct path and did overcome all doubts and fears when we were at a crossroad in the year 2020. The people of BTR gave their blessings and mandated the formation of our coalition Government comprising United Peoples’ Party Liberal (UPPL), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Gana Suraksha Party (GSP). This collective step of the people of Bodoland gave us the opportunity to redeem the many golden years we had lost due to prolonged conflict, violence, ignorance and the habit of shying away from problems. Our education, our economy, our society, our lands and human resources had been severely damaged. So, a change in course was of essence: we needed to change our mindsets, work ethos and shift gears. Two years down the lane, we have come a long way beyond the crossroad. As a matter of fact, our Government was formed on the 20 th of December 2020 when the entire country, including Assam and BTR, were undergoing a full-blown Covid 19 pandemic. At that time, we inherited a legacy of failed governance of the preceding 17 years of misrule by Bodoland Peoples’ Front (BPF). An environment of fear and uncertainty pervaded the sinews and tendons of our society. An overall negligence of basic human development indices in health, nutrition, and child safety was alarmingly high. We had also inherited a dysfunctional administrative system, massive liabilities (of Rs. 2900 Crores) and a policy vacuum. The stability of the BTR Government was tested at every step. There were deliberate attempts to sabotage the process of peace- building, growth and development in Bodoland. In the midst of this hostile backdrop created by elements that thrive in violence, environment of fear and anarchy, our BTR Government embarked on a courageous journey of creating a ‘New Bodoland Territorial Region’ [New BTR]. A New BTR that is peaceful, green and smart. A New BTR that empowers people to participate and express themselves by offering people-centric governance at all 33Chapter 2 levels. A New BTR that provides the environ for all communities, intellectuals, industries, tourists and entrepreneurs to flourish. A New BTR that is inclusive: where health and education of people is improved, where children are not malnourished, where sports, music and literature flourish, where youthful aspirations are supported, where women have the avenues of employment and where all people prosper together. This vision has continually received the blessings of our beloved Prime minister of India Shri Narendra modi Ji, Home minister of India Shri amit Shah Ji and Chief minister of assam, dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma Ji. In the last couple of years, we have worked relentlessly for peaceful coexistence, sustainable development and good governance. The programme for development of institutions as per the Bodo Peace Accord 2020 has been fast-tracked through the establishment of the Department of Implementation of Bodo Accord. This department has been expeditiously pursuing the conceptualization, drafting and instituting of various projects for socio-culture, linguistic and educational development of all communities residing in the Bodoland Territorial Region. By launching flagship programmes like the Giyan Swrang Bithangki (Knowledge is Light Mission) our Government has sought to reverse the poor performance indicators in the field of education through Bodoland School Adoption Programme, Capacity Building of Teachers and Officials through Exchange Programmes and Trainings, Stipends for poor students, and Super 50 Missions (one each for grooming 50 students to clear JEE and Indian Civil Services Examination) among others. In the agro- based sectors, important missions have been launched to augment the livelihood, incomes and employment of youth and women through the Sericulture Mission, Handloom and Textile Mission, Mushroom Mission, Milk Mission, Goat Mission, Bodoland Pig Mission, Feed Mission, Bamboo Mission, Poultry Mission, Farm Mechanization Mission, and Paddy Procurement Mission among others. 34Chapter 2 Fin Rwdwmkhang Bithanki [Bloom Again Mission] has also been initiated to enable meaningful social, economic and psychological reintegration of the erstwhile cadres of the disbanded National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), survivors of violence during the Bodoland Movement, and conflict-induced Internally Displaced Persons. In order to promote psychological wellbeing and healing in a post-conflict scenario, a Bodoland Community Counselling Programme, and a Bodoland Happiness Mission have been launched. The Rog Nirmal Bodoland Mission is set to address health concerns through telemedicine, mobile medical response teams and welfare grants to the poor. Again, high-value- low-volume ecotourism projects, establishment of non-polluting industries and business centres, agroforestry, marketing of sericulture produces are some of the initiatives that aim at revenue generation for the Council. For a person to succeed in the contemporary times, one needs a comprehensive skill set. The development of skills can contribute to structural transformation and economic growth by enhancing employability and workforce productivity. This area helps societies to be more progressive. In this regard, our Government launched the Bodoland Skill Employment & Entrepreneurship Development (SEED) Mission on 14th December 2021. Its vision of creating a Skilled BTR will ensure happiness amongst people of our region. Partnerships with the UNDP, UNICEF, Azim Premji University, Transforming Rural India Foundation (TRIF), North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR), Center for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS), Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation (BRLF) and other civil society organizations have been established in a bid to keep up with the march towards realization of SDGs 2030. Peace and harmonious co-existence of all tribes and communities in the Bodoland Territorial Region was an important thinking that went behind the crystallization of the Bodo Peace Accord 2020. 35Chapter 2 On this count, our Government has been communicating messages of peace, love, solidarity and resilience through poetry, drama, music, dance and sports. Most significant of these events being the 100-Language Poetry Festival (2021), Jothumma 2.0- a Youth Conclave (2022) and the Inter Sixth Schedule Premier League (ISPL) 2022. These well-attended events successfully provided the platform for celebration of creative expressions of the diverse languages, art, culture and sports in Bodoland, Assam and India. By way of hosting and showcasing personalities and stalwarts from every part of the country in these events, Kokrajhar (the capital city of Bodoland Territorial Region) has truly redeemed its imagery as a City of Peace from that of a narrowly held stereotypical imagery as a place capable of only violence. Our Government holds that land is an important denominator for survival, dignity and self-respect of persons and households in our society. Without land, people especially from rural and tribal communities are not able to build social, cultural and economic capital. On being landless, there is a constant impoverishment of the household, often leading to destruction of forests and fauna through encroachments. In this vein, to contextualize Mission Basundhara and in order to achieve our collective vision, the BTR Government will be launching Mission Bwiswmuthi on the 27 th of January 2023. As a precursor to the launch of the Mission Bwiswmuthi, the Land Certificate Issue Fairs are being organized in all our Circle Offices. This is a sure step towards providing land certificates to all eligible persons/households— taking us one step closer towards addressing the issues faced by all landless, poor and marginalized households in the BTR. Thus, our BTR Government is immersed in transforming contemporary governance paradigm in the region by combining best practices, new knowledge and praxis for bringing all-round change and development. The manifest commitment of the BTR Government to ensure “Peaceful, Green and Smart Bodoland” 36Chapter 2 is expressed through its various policy and programmatic initiatives in promoting peaceful co-existence, good governance and expediting overall growth and development against earlier neglect, apathy and underdevelopment. The various participatory programmes initiated by the BTR Government has ensured a departure from the then banal norms of conflict, violence and non-performance. It has brought a turnaround by strengthening culture of “a shared vision, a cohesive team and an engaging work culture”. However, we have only begun our journey and have not reached our destination yet. Our Government is committed to work still harder in the days to come to achieve our collective goal. A New BTR can be realized only when it is BTR 24/7. Now is the time to focus on rebuilding our lives, revitalizing our communities and rejuvenating our institutions. While there is peace in our region, we have to build an ecosystem where all people can dream and work for the fulfilment of those dreams. The people of BTR have already taken a courageous step towards this end. Our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters made the right choice and took the correct turn at the crossroad. We are now poised to reach greater heights of development and prosperity along with the rest of Assam and India!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 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 3 Visionary Leaders translate a Promise into Reality 38Chapter 3 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 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. The existing view of Northeast India as the Astha-Laxmi of India is particularly a positive deviation in this regard. Northeast India is not only law and order, or security matter, it is alive and thriving, requiring greater understanding, trust and mutual exchange with the rest of India. This farsighted vision of the Prime Minister brings Northeast right in the currents of development across the nation, and is the sure path towards a Vikshit Bharat which is inclusive of Northeast India. This has led to a significant improvement in the security situation in the North-Eastern states and, as such, the pace of the development has increased. 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. The condition for healing of both the survivors as well as perpetrators of violence needs to be sustained. 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 Next >