HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, Jan 20: Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday urged the young generation of the Bodo community to dedicatedly work for the promotion and dissemination of the Bathou religion and strengthen the identity of the Bodo culture in the world arena.
The Union home minister said this while addressing a mammoth gathering of over one lakh Bathou religion followers assembled for a mass invocation (aroj gooma) programme organized on the concluding day of 13th triennial session of the All Bathou Mahasabha at Thelamara Mani-Ratan-Lerela Kachari gwswkhang fwthar in Sonitpur district on Saturday .
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Amit Shah said, “The Bathou religion teaches lessons of non-violence, peace, forgiveness, love and affection and worship of nature. It is one among the ancient Indian religions that worships nature. I admire the Bodos for their patience and struggle to gain something meaningful for the nation.”
The Union minister also commemorated Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma and three other martyrs of the 1942 Quit India Movement from the Bodo community. They were Maniram Kachari, Lerela Kachari and Ratan Kachari.
“Their unmatched sacrifice has kept the dignity of the Bodo community high in the society. After resuming office as the home minister I have tried to delve deep into the long pending issues of the Bodos, the largest tribal community of the region and felt that there is no any difference between the Bodos and other communities of the country,” the he said.
“Today Bodos and Bodoland is on the right track of its development. However, I am happy to comprehend that Bathou Mahasabha came into being in 1962 and has been struggling for the prosperity of language, culture and heritage, thereby keeping the community united. I appreciate the chief minister of the state for his initiative to declare the second Tuesday of the Assamese month of Magh as a holiday every year for the Bathou religion followers,” the Union minister further said.
On the other hand, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarmah in his speech appreciated the Bathou Mahasbah’s initiative to take forward the Bodo nation on a right way. The traditional customs, rituals etc. of Bodos have enriched its culture.
The CM also announced grant of Rs. 5 lakhs to each of one thousand bathou thansali (temples) of the state while Rs. 10 crore to Bathou Thansali of Guwahati Bathoufuri Thansali to complete its construction. Further, he also announced that like other major organizations of the region Bathou Mahasabha would get an annual grant of Rs. 50 lakhs every year.
Assam cabinet minister, Ashok Singhal and Bodo Autonomous Council chief executive member, Pramod Boro in their addresses also spoke on the importance of the event and welcomed the dignitaries.
Cabinet ministers, Bimal Bora and UG Brahma, MPs Dilip Saikia , Pallab Lochan Das , Pradan Barua and Rongowra Narzary and MLA Ganesh Kumar Limbu were also present on the occasion.
