Guwahati

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed the 2020 Bodo Peace Accord, saying it has brought a historic transformation in Assam’s Bodoland region, with youths abandoning violence and joining the mainstream.

Addressing a public gathering at ‘Bagurumba Dwhou 2026’, the traditional Bodo cultural programme held in Guwahati, the Prime Minister said the region has moved from conflict to cultural vibrancy.

“Once where bullets echoed, today the melodies of music resonate,” Modi said, underlining the impact of peace and development in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).

Praising Assam’s rich cultural heritage, the Prime Minister said no other Prime Minister has visited the state as frequently as he has, adding that efforts are underway to give Assam’s culture global recognition.

“No other Prime Minister has visited Assam as much as I have. I want the culture of Assam to be recognised globally. Bagurumba is a living celebration of the Bodo society. It honours Bodo traditions and remembers the legends who strengthened social reform, cultural renaissance and political consciousness. I pay my respects to all of them,” he said.

Modi noted that Assamese has been designated a classical language, while Bodo has been recognised as an Associate Official Language, and a dedicated directorate has been established to strengthen Bodo language education.

Reflecting on the transformation of the BTR after the peace agreement, the Prime Minister said the region, once marked by bloodshed and curfews, is now witnessing cultural resurgence.

“I am getting emotional thinking about how much my Assam has progressed. Where there was bloodshed day after day, today vibrant colours of culture shine. Where there was curfew-like silence, there is now the sweet sound of kham and sifung. This grand celebration is not just Assam’s achievement, but the achievement of the entire nation,” he said.

“The 2020 Bodo Peace Accord ended decades-long conflict. Trust was restored, and thousands of youths left the path of violence to embrace the mainstream,” Modi added.

The BTR peace agreement was signed on January 27, 2020, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who had last year assured that all provisions of the accord would be fulfilled within two years.

At the event, the Prime Minister also tried his hand at the Serja, a traditional Bodo musical instrument, and was felicitated by the organisers.

More than 10,000 artists from the Bodo community performed the Bagurumba dance in a single synchronised presentation, with participants drawn from 81 Assembly constituencies across 23 districts of Assam.

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According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Bagurumba is a folk dance of the Bodo community inspired by nature, symbolising blooming flowers and harmony between human life and the natural world.