GUWAHATI: Any child growing up in the late 1990s and early 2000s could never think of venturing into Kokrajhar, the administrative heart of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTR) in Assam, such was the militancy there that resulted in violent militant activities, including bomb blasts and ethnic clashes. Twenty years later, people are visiting the region in droves for tourism and other purposes. One of the most recent purposes was a Durand Cup match, when a packed stadium erupted in celebration when Bodoland FC beat the ITBP to reach the quarterfinals of the prestigious football championship.
Such is the interest in football in Bodoland that it has caught Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attention. At his recent Mann ki Baat radio programme, the PM mentioned the Bodoland Premier Football Championship, the Bodoland CEM Cup. Describing a serene morning in the hills of Bodoland, PM Modi said, “Imagine a scene where morning sunlight kisses the hills and slowly brightens the plains.” He highlighted the transformation of Bodoland from a conflictridden region to a vibrant hub of sports. “There was a time when struggle defined Bodoland.
Opportunities were limited for the youth. But today, they carry dreams in their eyes and the courage of self-reliance in their hearts,” he said. PM Modi noted that the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) now boasts of nearly 70,000 football players, with a significant number of them being girls. This shift, he said, reflected the deep energy and confidence of the region’s youth.
So what has changed in these two decades? The militancy in the BTR region was marked by conflict, violence, ethnic clashes and bomb explosions. Different militant groups controlled four districts, namely, Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri. However, several accords with the Centre and agreements with the state government have paved the way for the Bodo youths to join the mainstream. And now over 4,800 cadres of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) have laid down their arms, marking the formal end to decades of militancy in Bodoland.
TIMELINE TO PEACE
1. First Bodo Accord: 1993 Signed between Government of India, the Government of Assam, and the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) with the Bodo People’s Action Committee (BPAC).
Main provision: Creation of the Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC) with limited administrative powers.
2. Second Bodo Accord: 2003 Signed between Government of India, Government of Assam, and the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) (a militant group).
Main provisions:
* Creation of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
* BTC to administer Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD)—the four districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, and Udalguri.
* A 46-member BTC (40 elected, 6 nominated).
* BTC got legislative, administrative, and financial powers in 40 subjects.
3. Third Bodo Accord: 2020 Signed between: Government of India, Government of Assam, and groups including All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU), United Bodo People’s Organisation (UBPO), and four NDFB factions.
Main provisions:
* Strengthening BTC, renaming area as Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).
* Reorganisation of villages: inclusion/exclusion based on Bodo/non-Bodo majority.
* Bodo language (Devanagari script) as associate official language of Assam.
* Bodo-Kachari Welfare Council for Bodos outside BTR.
* Special development package of Rs 1,500 crore over three years.
* Rehabilitation of surrendered NDFB cadres; withdrawal of cases (nonheinous).
* Guarantees to protect rights of non-Bodo communities in BTR.
The outcome was historic, with over 4,800 militants laying down arms.
DURAND CUP AND FOOTBALL
A powerful display of peace and unity was when thousands thronged the stadium in Kokrajhar to witness the Durand Cup clash. The atmosphere was electric, amid rain and beats of local music; people danced and cheered as Bodoland FC dominated the game with a convincing 4-0 win over ITBP. For many, the match symbolised more than football.
Residents told this newspaper on how the region had changed since the signing of the 2020 Bodo Accord, which brought several militant factions to the mainstream. “Earlier, people were scared to come here. Today, thousands have gathered to celebrate. This peace is the result of the BTR Accord,” one spectator said, emphasising how stability had replaced fear. The BTR chief, Pramod Boro, has highlighted that the people of the BTR region consider football to be a festival. “For two months every year, our people play football like a festival. Through football, it is like entertainment and exercise as well. Young boys and girls are taking this as a career.
Much progress is going on in football, and we are also starting an academy. PM had appealed for peace in this region, and since then, we have been working to get peace,” added Pramod Boro. Parents attending the match with their children spoke of a brighter future, while youths expressed their happiness that international icons like Messi and Ronaldo inspired them, showing that football had become a new cultural bridge. Visitors from districts like Chirang also travelled long distances to be part of the spectacle. Locals described the event as part of the government’s broader “Happiness Mission”—a shift from conflict to development, culture, and community pride.
“Football is our legacy. Earlier, there was violence, but now there is peace. People from across India should come and see it for themselves,” said another supporter. The Durand Cup, Asia’s oldest football competition, has found a new meaning in Bodoland. On Saturday, Bodoland FC lost their quarterfinal match to Northeast United FC. But that they had made it to the quarterfinals in their maiden entry to the tournament, is a huge achievement. Most importantly, Bodoland has discovered its love for football and it’s here to stay.
