The Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) has endured decades of conflict, insurgency, and displacement, and among the darkest chapters in its history were the 2012 riots.
The communal violence of 2012 tore apart communities, leaving behind loss, trauma, and mistrust. More than 110 people were killed, over 400,000 displaced, and hundreds of villages reduced to ashes.
It ruptured inter-community bonds.
People from more than 400 villages were forced into relief camps, where they lived for months in uncertainty and fear.
Children dropped out of schools, farmers lost their fields, and women faced extreme vulnerabilities. The scale of human suffering was immense, and its scars remain etched in the collective memory.
For many survivors, the memory of flames consuming their homes or the grief of losing a loved one haunted them for years.
This trauma often translated into fear, suspicion, and a lingering desire for revenge. Yet, as time passed, a realization grew among ordinary people—that carrying the weight of hate only prolonged the suffering.
Forgetting does not mean erasing history. The people of Bodoland understand that the riots were real and tragic, but they no longer wish to remain trapped in that past.
Their desire to forget is, in fact, a conscious choice to free themselves from trauma – and they realize that holding on to painful memories hinders healing. By choosing to forget, people seek emotional liberation.
To prevent cycles of revenge – Revenge was once seen as natural, but now many believe it only perpetuates division.
To rebuild broken trust – Forgetting becomes a bridge to reconciliation, allowing neighbors of different ethnicities to coexist again.
To focus on progress – People want to talk about roads, schools, jobs, and peace—not riots, relief camps, and curfews.
The Role of Peace Initiatives
Initiatives like the Bodoland Happiness Mission have played a crucial role in helping people forget the riots.
By offering trauma counselling, peace workshops, and dialogue sessions, the programme encouraged survivors to forgive and let go of bitterness.
Many now admit that revenge was never the solution; instead, reconciliation is the real path forward.
Women’s groups, youth volunteers, and local leaders have also taken charge of community peace-building.
Their active participation has reassured people that healing is possible and that the future does not have to resemble the past.
A New Generation’s Aspiration
Perhaps the strongest reason why Bodoland wants to forget the riots is the new generation. Young people, who either grew up in relief camps or heard stories of violence from their elders, are determined to live differently.
They dream of education, entrepreneurship, tourism, and modern infrastructure, not ethnic strife.
For them, forgetting the riots is not weakness—it is strength. It is an affirmation that their identity is not defined by conflict but by resilience, culture, and the will to grow together.
Challenges in Forgetting
Of course, forgetting is not easy. Scars remain—both physical and psychological. Some families are still displaced, and mistrust between communities has not completely disappeared.
Economic inequality and political narratives can reopen old wounds. Yet, despite these challenges, the overwhelming sentiment among the people is that clinging to the past only delays healing.
The people of Bodoland want to forget the riots of 2012 not because they deny the suffering, but because they want to rise above it. Forgetting, for them, means healing; it means breaking free from the cycle of trauma and revenge. It is an act of courage and wisdom, a declaration that peace and development are more important than old grudges.
As Bodoland continues its journey of reconciliation and growth, the memory of the riots will remain as a cautionary tale, but it will no longer define the region.
In choosing to forget, the people of Bodoland are choosing to live—together, peacefully, and with hope.
They no longer carry vengeance; instead, they believe in peace, forgiveness, and rebuilding communities. What changed their outlook?
Their answer is simple: the Bodoland Happiness Mission.
Birth of the Bodoland Happiness Mission
The initiative was launched in 2022 across Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri, and Chirang districts. It was envisioned by Pramod Boro, Chief of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) and leader of the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL).
The mission was designed to address one of Bodoland’s deepest wounds—its emotional and psychological scars.
Focusing on mental well-being, trauma healing, emotional intelligence, and peace-building, the programme set out to build resilient communities capable of moving beyond violence.
With its emphasis on dialogue and inclusivity, the mission engages all 26 communities of BTR, ensuring no group feels excluded.
Therapy and trauma counselling for riot victims, under the Bodoland Happiness Mission, are enabling survivors to move from anger to acceptance.
Through these efforts, hundreds of individuals have found new purpose and hope. Many describe the Bodoland Happiness Mission initiative as a turning point that helped them release the “weight of revenge” and embrace peace.
Why Healing Was Necessary
For nearly four decades, Bodoland lived under the shadow of conflict. The demand for an autonomous Bodoland in the 1980s gave rise to waves of insurgency, riots, curfews, and mass displacement.
Hatred and division became part of everyday life. Against this backdrop, the Bodoland Happiness Mission emerged as a much-needed healing process.
The Bodoland Happiness Mission initiative also actively involves women and grassroots leaders in peace-building. Women leaders, political representatives, and community elders are brought together to foster dialogue and reconciliation.
Since 2023, the Bodoland Happiness Mission has achieved 1,700 trained peace volunteers across BTR, while there were more than 15,000 participants, including former insurgent leaders.
The role of “Happiness Champions”, who organise community peace sessions and rebuild trust in the Bodoland, was crucial.
Former insurgent leaders, like Sambhu Hansda, openly credit the Bodoland Happiness Mission for restoring peace in Bodoland.
“I am optimistic that the Happiness Mission will bring permanent peace to Bodoland,” Hansda said.
Similarly, Prabhat Chandra Sutradhar, Senior Adviser of the All BTR Sutradhar Sanmillan, calls it a “game-changer” for a region long ravaged by insurgency.
The Promise of Peace
The Bodoland Happiness Mission is more than just trauma counselling—it is a journey from anger to forgiveness, from despair to hope.
In a land scarred by decades of violence, the Bodoland Happiness Mission shows that peace is possible when communities choose dialogue over division.
Today, Bodoland stands at the threshold of a new era—where happiness is seen not as a luxury, but as the foundation of reconciliation and development.
