Assam: President Ram Nath Kovind said that after several years of violence, Bodoland and the Bodo people have accepted the principle of Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma – ‘Live and Let Live’ – to establish peace and progress for prosperity.
The President was speaking at the 61st Annual Conference of Bodo Sahitya Sabha at Tamulpur on Wednesday.
President Kovind congratulated the citizens of Tamulpur, the 35th district of Assam, and hoped that the district will prosper like other districts of the state through community participation. He also praised the Bodo Sahitya Sabha for inviting delegates from Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
The President also launched a literary online platform of Bodo language ‘Bihung’, engineered by Bodo Sahitya Sabha for e-translation, literary and educational support that can be used as a dictionary.
“Women folk from the community and region should play a leading role in all aspects to educate and empower the young generations,” he said.
The President graced the concluding day of 61st Annual Conference as the chief guest. Assam Governor Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister of Sikkim Prem Singh Tamang, and Chief Minister of Meghalaya Conrad K Sangma were also present at the event.
Former president of All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), Sahitya Akademi awardee and Cabinet minister Urkhw Gwra Brahma, Speaker of Assam Legislative Assembly Biswajit Daimary, Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament from BTR Rwngwra Narzary, All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) president Dipen Boro were among the dignitaries present in the session, which was presided over by Bodo Sahitya Sabha president Toren Boro .
Chief Executive Member of Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) Pramod Bodo said: “Bodos have travelled a journey of 40 years from violence to establish peace and the gracious presence of the President of India is testimony to prevailing peace in Bodoland region.”
Acknowledging the presence of the President of India, Bodo Sahitya Sabha president Toren Boro called the 61st Annual Conference of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha as a historic one in its sixty years journey.
Governor Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, in his address, recalled the contributions of Bodos in the nation building process as well as cultural and literary revolution of the community.
Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma announced Rs 50 lakh to Bodo-populated districts of Assam to build Bodo Sahitya Sabha offices in the next three years.
The President of India is on a four-day visit to the Northeast. He will also grace the 16th convocation of Mizoram University as the Chief Guest in Mizoram’s capital Aizwal on May 5.
Also read: Mevani calls Gujarat govt ‘useless’ on his return from Assam
