Assam: Bodofa's 64th Birth Anniversary Observed with Social Distancing Guidelines

Kokrajhar, March 31, 2020:

Celebrating the 64th birth anniversary of the Bodo student leader Upendra Nath Brahma on Tuesday, the members of the All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) members across Assam were seen observing "social distancing" as a means to raise awareness about the new coronavirus (or COVID-19). The contagion has infected over 1,000 people in India and 7 lakh across the world; the international death toll stands at 37,832.

[Note: Social distancing, or physical distancing, is a set of non-pharmaceutical interventions or measures taken to prevent the spread of a contagious disease by maintaining a physical distance between people and reducing the number of times people come into close contact with each other.]

Amid maintenance of strict social distancing during lockdown periods, the 64th birth anniversary of Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma, the former president of ABSU, was observed today as "Student Day" at ABSU offices across the districts of Assam today. Coronavirus awareness played a key role in the celebrations this year, with the student body urging all and sundry to take precaution against the virus which has wreaked havoc across the world.

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This year, like every year, the birth anniversary was organised by All Bodo Students Union to remember and recall contributions of Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma, who dedicated his entire life for the caused of Bodo nation as well as for the upliftment of the downtrodden communities in the state.

The day marked strict follow of the social distance during the lockdown periods as nation is maintaining strong awareness to make prevention of the COVID-19 outbreak across the country.ABSU leader,members saw maintaining of social distancing during the observation with strict measures.

Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma born on 31st March(1956) at Boragari Dotma in Kokrajhar and died on May 1, 1990. Bodofa led a democratic mass movement for creation of separate Bodoland statehood within Indian constitution during his tenure of the leader of the apex student body in the region. Many consider his movement as the beginnings of the Bodoland statehood struggle that recently culminated in the signing of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) treaty.

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In Bodofa House, the ABSU's head office in Kokrajhar, Assam, ABSU general secretary Lawrence Islary hoisted the flag and paid his homage to the Bodofa. Making an appeal to the student community amid suspension of schools, Islary has urged the students to prepare diligently while staying at home as per the current norms. ABSU appealed all sections of citizens to obey directions issued by the Government and to stay indoors as the health administrations attempt to curb the spread of the virus and increase capacity in the medical facilities. Meanwhile, the Dotma anchalik committee of the ABSU has offered garlands at the statue of Bodofa at Thulungapuri Dotma on his birth anniversary as a mark of tribute to the popular Bodo leader.