Pramod Boro

The signing of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) Peace Accord on 27 January 2020 by ABSU, NDFB factions and UBPO marked a historic milestone in India’s long decades and complex journey of resolving internal conflicts through democratic dialogue.

More than a regional settlement, the BTR Accord represents a national commitment to peace, inclusion, dignity, and development, reaffirming the Indian state’s belief that lasting peace is achieved not through force, but through justice, trust, and participatory governance.

For decades, the Bodoland region had witnessed cycles of political unrest, ethnic tensions, and economic stagnation. Aspirations for identity, autonomy, and equitable development often collided with violence, displacement, and mistrust. The BTR Accord transformed this trajectory by bringing former armed groups into the constitutional mainstream, ending violence, and replacing confrontation with cooperation.

Today, as I reflect on this journey, I am reminded that this Accord was born out of the unimaginable sacrifices of thousands of men, women, and children who endured the long, dark, and cold tunnel of bloodshed, hatred, killings, and uncertainty.

It was a welcome light at the end of that seemingly unending tunnel.My heart is particularly heavy when I think of the surviving mothers of our martyrs and their orphaned children. We cannot forget that their sacrifice is the very foundation upon which our society is built.

This transition from conflict to constitutionalism demonstrates the strength of India’s federal structure, where diversity is accommodated through dialogue, autonomy, and democratic institutions. The Accord reaffirmed that regional aspirations can accommodate within the unity of the Indian Union.

Unlike many peace agreements that focus narrowly on ceasefire or rehabilitation, the BTR Accord is deeply rooted in a development-centric and peace building vision. It recognizes that peace cannot survive in conditions of instability, poverty, unemployment, and exclusion.

Hence, the Accord integrates governance reform, economic investment, cultural protection, and social justice into a single framework with key objectives of Strengthening autonomous governance through the restructured BTR, Focused on investment in education, health, infrastructure, Sports, and livelihoods. Protection and promotion of language, culture, and identity, rehabilitation and dignified reintegration of former militants and also Inclusive growth for all communities living in the region.

The BTR Peace Accord must be understood as a national responsibility, not a concession to a single community. Peace in Bodoland contributes to peace in Assam, stability in the North-East, and security for the nation as a whole. The region’s strategic location as India’s gateway to South-East Asia further elevates its importance in national economic and geopolitical terms.

Sustained political support, timely financial devolution, administrative and policy cooperation from the Union and State governments are therefore essential. Peace accords do not implement on their own, they demand long-term commitment beyond political cycles and ideological hues.

The future of BTR depends on fair governance and transparency. Equal access to development opportunities for us, those who inhabit the remote fringes of the great Indian state. Protection of the right of the indigenous people as guaranteed in the Sixth Schedule of our constitution. Opportunity to youth participation and women’s leadership.

A culture of sharing of ideas and dialogue over division. Only when peace becomes people-centric, touching everyday lives, can it be sustained across generations. The real strength of the BTR Accord lies in its inclusive vision. Sustainable peace is not achieved by empowering one group at the cost of others. It requires mutual respect, shared prosperity, and social harmony among all communities where the Bodo and non-Bodo coexisted from centuries.

As India aspires to become a global leader founded in unity and pluralism, the successful realization of the BTR Accord will stand as a powerful example: that peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, opportunity, and hope.

The BTR Peace Accord is a reminder that the nation’s strength lies in its ability to listen, reconcile, and rebuild. Its full realization will not only secure Bodoland’s future but will also enrich India’s democratic legacy. Sustainable peace and development in BTR are therefore regional dreams borne out of a national promise. 

However, as we mark another anniversary, we must be honest with ourselves. A peace accord cannot be a museum piece. It cannot remain a mere document gathering dust in some administrative office, used only for commemorative speeches for electoral gains. For the Bodo Peace Accord to fulfill its destiny, it must be a living document, implemented in both spirit and word with the same urgency that was present on the day it was signed.

While we have made historic strides, there has been a palpable lack of momentum in recent months regarding critical clauses that remain unfulfilled.It is a living national pledge that seeks to heal historical wounds, to transform conflictsinto harmonious co-existence, to convert our remote landsunder an inclusive development paradigm, and to uphold democratic values in the face of diversity. It should not be subject to nonchalance and apathy.

We must never forget the cost of this peace. The BTR Accord should not be understood as a regional concession but as a national responsibility. Our path to this moment was paved by the blood of martyrs. Over the last few years, we worked to honor this sacrifice through a series of flagship missions that sought to address the hurt, grief, trauma, neglect and wounds of the past.

But much remains unfulfilled to this day. The “spirit” of the Accord is currently being tested by administrative delays. I, along with other elected representatives of the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), have been persistently highlighting, in various circles and forums, critical areas where progress has stalled.

The 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which is vital for the restructuring of the Sixth Schedule and the strengthening of BTR’s financial and administrative powers, must be passed without further delay. This legal requirement is the backbone of the self-governance promised in Clause 4.3 of the Accord. Without these amendments, our ability to deliver sustainable development is hampered by limiting fiscal frameworks.

Furthermore, the inclusion and integration of villages from Sonitpur, Biswanath, Darrang, and Nalbari into the BTR must reach its logical and final conclusion. While 81 villages have been integrated, the process of boundary extension needs to be completed to satisfy the long-standing aspirations of the people living in those contiguous areas.

Equally pressing are the rehabilitation and release of former NDFB leaders and cadres who are still in incarceration. Clause 9.4 of the Accord was a promise of a fresh start. For the peace to be truly “inclusive,” we must ensure that those who chose the path of the Constitution are not left to languish in legal limbo.

The commitment to include the Bodo-Kachari community residing in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao in the ST (Hills) list of Assam remains an unfulfilled pledge from the 2003 and 2020 agreements. This is a matter of justice for our brothers and sisters who have waited far too long for their rights to be recognized.

Finally, the establishment of several key institutions listed in the Accord must be fast-tracked to ensure our students have access to world-class learning within their own region. The spirit of the Accord demands the full provincialization of the remaining venture colleges, as well as elementary and high schools, to provide stability to our educators and quality to our learners.

Again, we await the complete operationalization of the specialized institutes that include a central university, AIIMS campus, the polytechnics, paramedical colleges, and the Hotel and Tourism Institute which were envisioned to turn BTR into a hub of professional excellence.

It should be noted that the complete fulfilment of these commitments should not be viewed as a matter of administrative compliance only, but be held as the very foundation of respect and justice. I am afraid, when the implementation of an Accord slows down, it creates a vacuum that can be filled by doubt and the ghosts of the past. We must all remember that the success of the BTR Accord is a powerful example for the entire nation, a proof that India’s federal structure can accommodate regional aspirations through dialogue and trust.

As we look toward the future, we must also realize that peace is fragile as there are already unfortunate events unfolding in BTR, once again, early this year. Therefore, let the Bodo Peace Accord be a living, breathing reality for all. We seek the complete implementation of every clause, in letter and spirit, to ensure that the light at the end of the tunnel never flickers.

Calling for the implementation of our accord is not asking for more than what was promised. We simply ask that the promises be kept, and in a timely manner, for the sake of our martyrs, for the sake of our children, and for the sake of peace and unity.

The author is the President of UPPL, former Chief Executive Member of BTR, and a signatory of the Bodo Peace Accord 2020