geopolitics movement in india its mainly regional movement in north east india it is the part of political geography

1. BODO MOVEMENT
Submitted By
Sahidul Hossaion
M. A. Sem.- III
Dept. Of Geography
Visva-Bharati

2. REGIONALISM
A region is a vast tracked land with more or less defined territorial boundaries and
specific characteristics. As a concept regionalism has evolved as same mid point
between community and the nation. Regionalism would be densified in terms of as
follows-
1. Supra-state regionalism- is actually expression as a feeling of group identity
in which the state holders join to take common stand on an interest the southern
regionalism with the republic of Dravida Nadu after independence of India or the
north east regionalism against the Hindi belt are excellent example of supra state
regionalism Jharkhand movement spreading over four adjacent state Madhya
Pradesh , Bihar Orissa is another example.
2. Inter-state regionalism- some time a state may be treated as a unit for evolving
regionalism. The Kaveri dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka as the
example of it.
3. Intra-state regionalism- it is concern with the sub region with in a state.
Gorkhaland movement is an example of this regionalism.
Now we can discussed here BODO MOVEMENT under the
category of inter-state regionalism-

3. Introduction-From 2 March 1987, the Bodos of Assam started a vigorous mass movement demanding a separate
state in the north bank of river Brahmaputra under the leadership of All Bodo Students’ Union and Bodo People’s
Action Committee. The movement attracted nationwide attention with both its integrationist and secessionist
assertions.
BOROLAND MOVEMENT

4. Historical background- The Bodo movement was inspired by the idea of self-determination and a wish also to
protect their distinct lingo-cultural identity. They already had the examples of the hill tribes like the Nagas, the Mizos
and the Khasis and Jayantias of Assam who were able to successful. By 1930s Bodo identity had already taken a
definite shape. In the conference of Assam Kachari Yuvak Sanmilani held at Titabar, Jorhal on 12 August, 1927, the
representatives drawn from all parts of Assam and all tribal communities of Bodo family adopted a resolution to
recognize themselves as independent from the Hindu community in all respects, political, social and religious.Politics
The Central Government s policy of reorganizing state boundaries in North-£ast also played significant role in shaping
the demand for a Bodoland.
Phases of the movement-
• The first phase (1933-1952): the phase of political
awakening-The Bodo leadership propagates the idea
of Bodoland through the assumption that political
autonomy will remove their deprivations

5. • Phase two (1952-1967): issue of language and script-The feeling of nationalistic attitude among the educated
Bodos grew with the formation of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) in 1952, The movement during this time is to the
assertion of linguistic identity due to the threat posed by the dominant Assamese community due to the
introduction of the Assam official language bill, 1960.
This phase has achieved the introduction of Bodo language as the medium of instruction in schools in Bodo
dominated area in 1963 (Sharma, 2000).
• Phase three (1967-1986): the demand for political
autonomy-With the quest for linguistic identity in progress,
the movement has taken a huge leap and for the first time has
demanded an arrangement for autonomy
The Bodos thus take a new turn in its movement with the
formation of the Plain Tribal Council of Assam (PTCA) in
27th February, 1967. Its aim was to demand a Union Territory
called “Udayachal” in the Bodo dominated areas. The All Bodo
Students’ Union” (ABSU) was also formed on 15th February,
1967

6. Phase four (1987-1992): demand for separate statehood-The ABSU under the leadership of late
Upendra Nath Brahma launched vigorous mass movement on 2nd March, 1987 with a series of
political demand the most resounding of which is the demand for separate state of Bodoland (Das,
2014).
Phase five (1993-2003): post accord and the secessionist
movement-Violence continued with the fighting between the
armed group and with the state forces. The second Bodo
Accord was signed in 2003 between the BLT and the state
government with the former shunting the arms struggle. the
BTC was to comprise four districts: Kokrajhar, Baksa,
Chirang, and Udalgur, which were to be created by
reorganising the existing districts of Assam. These four
districts are otherwise known as the Bodoland Territorial Area
Districts (BTAD)
However, it is strongly held that the BTC failed to fulfil its
promise- identity, language and culture not protected by the
state.

7. . Damaged due to the movement-
during 1974-75 and the Assam Government tried to crush
down that peaceful mass movement in which 15 Bodo people
lost their valuable lives in police firing, many Bodo villages were
raided, Bodo houses were burnt, properties either damaged or
looted; not less than 50 thousand Bodo people were arrested
and put into jails.

8. The movement however has failed to truly realize the concerns of the poor and the general masses and has failed
to maintain a strong solidarity amongst the people which led to the internal crisis and leadership failure.
Why did the ideals fail in spite of an apparently powerful movement?
• This led to the infighting and bloodshed amongst themselves and led to the death of many civilians and various
political leaders too due to revenge killing. This has paralysed the movement internally and has reduced the
momentum of the movement.
• Another reason that can attribute to the decline of the movement was the inability to include the other minority
groups under the ambit of the movement. As there are a number of minority groups who are residing along with the
Bodos, their failure to include these people has led to them opposing the movement.
• Another facet which has contributed to its decline is the indirect suppression from the government through various
appeasement policies firstly with the BAC in 1993 and the BAT in 2003.
• The movement however has failed to truly realize the concerns of the poor and the general masses and has failed to
maintain a strong solidarity amongst the people which led to the internal crisis and leadership failure
• The leadership crisis and the internal conflict amongst themselves was the greatest detrimental force in the
movement

9. CONCLUSION
The Bodo movement is a complex one with the transition from one phase to another with the change in
demands and leadership. The Bodo movement can fit into the categories of movements for separate
statehood; insurgent movements and cultural rights movements. All throughout these process, the middle
class has played an important role in leading the movement
Refences-
• Bodoland movement in assam-
https://summinlunvualnam.wordpress.com/2016/04/14/bodoland-movement-in-
assam/
• Historical background of the bodo movement-
http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/67844/9/09_chapter%202.pdf
• Das, bitasta. “The bodo movement and situating identity assertions in
assam.” Journal of human sciences 2, no. 2 (june 2014): 173-184.
• Das, gurudas. “Identity and underdevelopment: on conflict and peace in assam.