ABSU observes 67th birthday of Bodofa UN Brahma as Students’ Day in Kokrajhar

KOKRAJHAR: The All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) and UN Brahma Trust on Friday observed the 67th birthday of Bodofa Upendranath Brahma as the Students’ Day at Thulungapuri (Burial place), Dotma in Kokrajhar district while the government of Assam observed the Students’ Day at Sankardeva Kalashetra in Guwahati for the first time after the Chief Minister declared March 31 as the Students’ Day.

As part of the programme, the president of the ABSU Dipen Boro hoisted the organizational flag in the morning followed by homage at the burial by Bimala Brahma, sister-in-law of Bodofa. The chairperson of UNB Trust Dr. Subung Basumatary offered rich floral tribute at the statue of Bodofa UN Brahma while the Director of UN Academy Krishna Gopal Basumatary released pigeon and balloons for peace and harmony. The plantation of trees was started by BTC EM of Forest Ranjit Basumatary and Environmentalist Padmashree Jadav Payeng who attended the function as the chief guest. The peace rally by the students was flagged off by BTC EM and former vice president of the ABSU Reo Reowa Narzihary.

Talking to media persons, the president of the ABSU Dipen Boro said Bodofa UN Brahma was the architect of modern Bodo community who dedicated his life for the down trodden communities. Bodofa started from scratch to build the modern generation as he fought with non violent motto to free the Bodos and other down trodden communities from suppression and domination, he said adding that he had dream of making Bodo a master race of the world. He also said the Bodos had MoS for three times with the government of India since 1993 to 2020 which is because of Bodofa’s efforts to create Bodoland State. He called upon the coming generations to follow the principle and ideology of Bodofa. He also thanked the Chief Minister of Assam Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma for translating his commitment to declare the birthday of Bodofa as Students’ Day of the State. He further thanked Assam Minister UG Brahma and CEM of BTC Pramod Boro for making Students’ Day a reality.

In his speech, Minister UG Brahma recalled the history of Bodofa and his struggle for the down trodden communities. He said Bodofa was the role model to lead the Bodoland movement and reformation of the Bodos with mission- “Unity through struggle”. Bodofa left the job of Inspector of Income Tax department in 1986 whose rank could be Commissioner of IT till his retirement to lead the society towards the right way for strong foundation of the Bodos, he said adding that there was no bronze statue culture for Bodo leaders other than Rupnath Brahma installed by government of Assam near Kokrajhar Pragati Bhaban. He said the 2nd statue of Bodofa UN Brahma was installed at Thulungapuri, Dotma which was created by artist Kamal Goyary. The 3rd bronze statue of Jwhwlao Dwimalu was installed at Karigaon and nowadays the bronze statues of many Bodo leaders have come up.

Brahma said 27 bighas of land at Thulungapuri was donated by some individuals for their love for UN Brahma, an LP School in the compound was shifted, he said adding that the boundary wall around Thulungapuri with boulders was donated completely by Anchalik committees of ABSU while the truck owners gave free service for carrying boulders from river Swrmanga at that time. He also said only Rs. 7 lakh was spent to build boundary wall, installation of statue and other infrastructures at that time.

The minister said the government of Assam had assured projects of Rs. 8 crore and BTC Rs. 2 crore at Thulungapuri, Dotma to develop the burial place of Bodofa as one of the most spectacular recreational and research destinations.

The open meeting in connection with the observation of birthday of Bodofa was also addressed by Environmentalist Jadav Payeng, Director of NRL Sudip Pradhan, Ex-MLA Parmeswar Brahma and others and was attended by BTC EMs-Ranjit Basumatary, Reo Reowa Narzihary, president of Dularai Boro Harimu Afad (DBHA) Jageswar Brhama, ABSU advisor Khungkra Swargiary, BTC Principal Secretary Anurag Goel, chairperson of UNB Trust Dr. Subung Basumatary and leaders of Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) and ABWWF.