C U L T U R E

History

The history of the Boros, also known Bodo, goes way back to ancient times and actually starts when the people moved from Tibet to settle what is known as Assam in the North East of India, south of China, west of Myanmar/Burma and north of Bangladesh. The culturally rich and glorious past of the Boro dates back some 1600 years. Today due to invasions and conquests the Boro are scattered and are known by tribes and subtribes like Dimasa, Garo, Borok of Tripura, Lalung, Hajong, Sanowal etc. Threatened with extinction it is an irony of history that this once powerful people now have to protect their cultural identity. Conquered by the Kingdom of Bhutan with the help of the British, the people forced to pay taxes were suppressed, tortured and enslaved. The colonial British agreed (Sinsula agreement) with the Royal Government of Bhutan to rule Boroland of the northern bank of the Bhramaputra River and paid a yearly sum of money for the privelege. Later, when India took over from Britain again Bhutan made an agreement with India this time which stipulated that India could lease the land of the Boros in exchange for a some of money; this without consultation or consent of the Boro People. India is paying this yearly amount of 5 billion rupees till today. The Boro People do not seem to be benefitting from this agreement between the two nations in any way, but feel bypassed and sold out. They seek their own sovereignity.

From 1980 onwards, due to the polity of modern India, land alienation, militarization, suppression, the Boro felt compelled to stand up for themselves and to their defense formed the armed Boroland movement. This in itself quite suddenly evoked national attention. The Boro declared that they wanted to be free to determine their own future and refered to the United Nations which recognizes the right to Self Determination. Outside Assam the Boro are not known, the international community due to the idea of it being a conflict domestic in nature does not know about the Boro nor does it intervene in the conflict. As a result very few people know about or the background of the unrest the Boro and their prospects of self determination. To grasp the zest to self determination history shows the juxtaposition of the plight of the Boro People to become a Nation in their own right but have to stand up to what India is unwilling to do: to come to terms to end the conflict and accommodate the Boro People.

With this site the Boro Support Group brings the culture of the Boro and their aspirations to life, so let’s now fathom the origin of the Boro people.

Further reading:

Pre-History     Origin of the term Boro     Present Political Situation