Hagrama Mohilary is the Most Successful Militant-Turned-Politician in Northeast Indian History?

Guwahati, November 7, 2019:

With the 'mother of all insurgencies', the Naga issue, apparently inching towards a final solution ,perhaps it is pertinent it is time to reflect upon the most successful armed militancy in the Northeast: the armed struggle of the Hagrama Mohilary-led Bodo Liberation Tiger Force (BLT).

It can be argued that the militant-turned-politician Hagrama, who signed the BTC Accord with the Centre in 2003, is arguably the most 'successful' surrendered militant in the present political scenario.

The signing of the Accord in February 10, 2003, by Hagrama Mohilary and then-ABSU leader Biswajit Daimary, after a series of deliberations and consultations with the Government, is said to have ushered in a new era of development to the once-troubled BTAD region in Assam.

The Accord led to the creation of three new districts, namely, Chirang, Udalguri, Baksa, which, along with Kokrajhar, the nerve-centre of the Bodo inhabited areas, formed the Council.

Hagrama, showing his political acumen and negotiating skills, also played a key role in rehabilitating the Bodo Liberation Tiger Force cadres and they, to a great extent, were incorporated successfully into the mainstream, with violence giving way to prosperity and development in the region.

Envisaging a vision for the students of the region, the Bodoland University was set up, with a reservation of 80% for the students of the Council, but under the condition that the students study within the colleges situated in the BTAD area itself. The Central Institute of Technology (CIT), one of the boons of the Accord, with a high quota of reservation (60%) for students from the BTAD area, has also launched development in the technical education sphere in the region in the ensuing years. Another outcome of the BTC Accord is the BB Engineering College, and under it's conditions, a world-class medical institute is also being constructed.

After the signing of the Accord, the Bodo language was also included as a 'national language' under the 8th schedule of the Constitution, securing the future of the Bodos' mother tongue. Moreover, in a bid to preserve the language, Bodo language departments have been set up in the Universities in Guwahati and Dibrugarh as well.

Apart from significant developments in the fields of arts, culture, and education, the Bodoland People's Front (BPF), at the helm since the first Council election, has also set it's sights on developing the infrastructural facilities in the region.

Now, the infrastructure in the BTAD area is at par with the more developed regions across the country, with special emphasis on road connectivity and tourism. Moreover, the roads to Bhutan have also been built under Hargrama's regime, leading to an inflow and outflow of trade, tourism, and commerce.

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Now, let's compare this with the developments under the Assam Accord, the fruit of the 6 years' long Assam Agitation.

In contrast to the change and development brought in by the Bodoland Accord, Tezpur University, supposedly one of the boons of the Assam Accord, and IIT Guwahati, do not even have a single seat reserved for the indigenous Assamese, and it can be argued that Assam got the buildings only.

Meanwhile, the ULFA leadership has been unable to reach a settlement with the Government so far and pro-talks leaders have seen their power and influence wane after giving up arms.

Paresh Baruah, the leader of the non-talks faction, is reportedly losing cadres to Myanmar Government crackdowns, as many of the militants have crossed the border and surrendered to the army on the Indian side of border.

It can be argued that the 'Assam Accord' was a missed opportunity to cement the identity and development of Assam as compared to the BTC Accord signed under the leadership of Hagrama Mohilary.

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