Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) chief Pramod Boro said they are looking forward to transforming the Bodoland region from terrorism to tourism with the events like Bodoland International Knowledge Festival which got began in Kokrajhar on February 27.
The first edition of the festival is being organised by Bodoland University with active support from the BTR government.
“We want to move forward. We want to leave behind all the negativity and adopt a positive approach to life. BTR was known for violence and insurgency. But with the events like this and with the participation of all, we want to make BTR a hub of intelligence, education and opportunity,” said Pramod Boro.
“I hope we will be able to transform Bodoland from terrorism to tourism.”
Pramod Boro termed the inauguration of the Bodoland knowledge festival as historic.
“We are extremely happy and glad to welcome some of the wonderful human beings whose contributions to change humans are immense. We hope this will mark a new beginning in the BTR,” said Boro.
He said they are committed to changing the life of 3.5 million people in the BTR after a four-decade-long violence-torn journey. “After the 2020 Accord under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, peace has returned to our region. Now people can come here freely,” Pramod Boro said.
The thematic area of the Bodoland International Knowledge Festival is the achievement of social development priorities and key Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030 in contemporary BTR and the world.
The visionary leadership of Shri @narendramodi brought an end to conflict in BTR.
The Bodo Peace Accord 2020 paved the way for us to envisage a “Peaceful, Green and Smart Bodoland”.
– Shri @PramodBoroBTR, Hon’ CEM, BTR#BIKF2023 pic.twitter.com/ci9wJfqxXU
— Bodoland International Knowledge Festival (@bikf2023) February 27, 2023
In view of this, the following baskets of themes and sub-themes will be deliberated and discussed: Science & Technology, Livelihood, Indigenous Knowledge System, Women Empowerment, Child Rights & Protection, Peace Building, Good Governance, Communication and Media, Behavioural Change & Communication, Human Rights, Sustainable Agriculture, Climate Justice and Action, Quality Education, Health and Wellbeing, Art & Culture, Youth Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property Rights, Trade, Commerce and Investment and BTR in the light of the Act East Policy.
“It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”
Hearty welcome to the first-ever Bodoland International Knowledge Festival at Kokrajhar- the City of Peace!#BIKF2023 pic.twitter.com/GMlFefDNkj
— Pramod Boro (@PramodBoroBTR) February 27, 2023
There are participation of more than 300 invited delegates from across India and 35 international delegates from 14 countries.
More than 10,000 participants are taking part in the Knowledge Festival comprising students, academicians, researchers, development practitioners, government officials, politicians, entrepreneurs, farmers and SHG members among others.
Earlier, the inaugural ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries including the Nobel Laureate economist Prof Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh, Padma Shri awardee philanthropist and diamond exporter Savji Bhai Dholakia, SECMOL founder Sonam Wangchuk, Bollywood actor and philanthropist Vivek Oberoi, Assam assembly speaker Biswajit Daimary, Assam minister UG Brahma and Consul General Royal Bhutanese Consulate General Guwahati Jigme Thinlye Namgyl among others.
