A Bodoland mission to help victims of conflict heal

Ever since Abdul [name changed] had seen his house set ablaze by a certain community during the 2012 riots, he had felt vengeful. As a part of the Bodoland Happiness Mission, Abdul underwent almost seven years of healing and trauma counselling, which helped him realise that the conflict between the two communities had spared no one.

“I realised ‘hinsa’ [revenge] was a part of the problem, never the solution. I have forgiven the people who did this to my home,” he says.

The 2012 riots between Bodos and Muslims in the Bodoland region, located in the state of Assam, resulted in a series of violent clashes with more than 100 migrants killed in these attacks. After his sessions with the Bodoland Happiness Mission, Abdul began to believe in the power of community and dialogue towards achieving communal harmony.

A legacy of conflict

The Bodoland region had been witness to 30-40 years of conflict involving a series of riots and insurgency. It was in the 1980s that the demand for a separate autonomous region of ‘Bodoland’ began. 

“A lot of people in Bodoland, around the 1980s, suffered due to communal clashes, curfews and conflicts,” says Morin Daimury, programme manager of the Bodoland Happiness Mission. “These conflicts not only created hatred and division among communities but also led to the displacement of many people.” 

As a result, numerous children have had to drop out of school, and youth were compelled to flee the region in search of better opportunities. “Women and children, in particular, have been extremely vulnerable, especially in relief camps, where they often faced difficult circumstances,” says Padmini Brahma, who also oversees the Happiness Mission.

The Bodoland Happiness Mission was launched in 2022 across the Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri and Chirang districts. The government of BTR (Bodoland Territorial Region) has already taken an important step with its launch. This project aims to create a supportive ecosystem for mental and emotional wellbeing, fostering a culture of happiness and emotional resilience.

“By offering mindfulness and emotional intelligence training, and encouraging community-led initiatives for reconciliation, we aim to build a positive environment where individuals can thrive emotionally and socially,” says Brahma.

A community effort to build peace

The programme was conceived by Pramod Boro, who heads the United People Party and is credited with the formation of the Bodoland Territorial Council. 

The 2020 peace accord, signed between the government of India, representatives of the Bodo rebel groups and the government of Assam had established Kokrajhar as the centre of peace efforts.

Peace cannot be achieved by merely laying down arms. Those on the frontline have been through enormous pain and trauma seeing their homes burnt down, or people killed. We are assisting them one-on-one with their individual healing.

A part of the training called ‘Women in Peace Building’ brings political leaders and representatives of the development sector to hold talks with community leaders on how to facilitate dialogue and honest conversations. This particular session was held at Zuzba village, Nagaland in 2022 at Niketu Iralu and Christine’s ‘House of Listening’, according to Daimury.

Niketu Iralu has been recognised as a peacebuilder extraordinaire for sowing the seeds of peace in Nagaland. Several community leaders were selected from across Bodoland along with dynamic women such as Paulina Ekka, a core member of the All Adivasi Women Association of Assam, to undergo training in peacebuilding and exchange spiritual lessons, sharing tales of fear and hardships amidst conflict.

Moving forward together

These sessions offer a safe space for victims to open up, acknowledge what went wrong, make amends, and share their stories,” says Daimary. Under the Bodoland Happiness Mission, the Council is also working to recruit master counsellors to promote peace and happiness further.

Since the Mission launched these programmes in 2023, around 1,700 peace volunteers have been trained throughout Bodoland. Many of these trained youth have become ‘Happiness Champions,’ helping mobilise communities to attend peace sessions in villages, enabling them to heal and move forward.

Sunny Donkupar Mawiong was also instrumental in bringing Pramod Boro’s vision to life. From designing the programme’s content and training to guiding the team, his leadership has been instrumental in shaping the Mission and its ongoing success

“In BTR, we coexist with 22 different communities, and we are identifying youth and community leaders from each of these communities with the help of student unions, Village Council Development Committees, and other local bodies,” says Brahma.

“The Government of BTR, under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Shri Pramod Boro, has focused on bringing together individuals and organisations that have extensively contributed to bridging gaps within their communities and promoting peace. Through a series of practical exercises and workshops, we address bias removal, conflict resolution, and effective communication strategies, ensuring our volunteers are well-equipped to foster harmony across diverse groups,” adds Brahma.

The lead photo shows a walk for peace organised as a part of the Bodoland Happiness Mission programme. (Courtesy of Bodoland Happiness Programme on Facebook)

Aatreyee Dhar is an independent journalist based out of Assam.