Genesis - Delhi NCR Boro Thunlai Afad

The Delhi National Capital Territory Boro Thunlai Afad (Delhi NCR Boro Thunlai Afad or DNBTA) initially started as Delhi Boro Thunlai Afad. It was on the 1st October of 2023 that Boro intellectuals and social activists residing in Delhi gathered at Bodoland Bhawan, Dwarka Sector 18/A, New Delhi at 2 PM to discuss about the need of an association to continuously work for the development, preservation and promotion of language, literature and culture of the great Boro Hari (Boro People). The Boro diaspora community who attended the meeting held under the chairmanship of Shri Atul Basumatary, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Defence, after extensive deliberations, felt convinced that to preserve and spread the Boro language, literature, and culture in a place like Delhi, an association was needed and committed to form the Delhi Bodo Thunlai Afad (Delhi Bodo Sahitya Sabha). Delhi NCR region has seen an increasing population of Boro professionals working in various government establishments of the Central and the Delhi state governments as well as in many private companies. Further, the number of Boro students and teachers in different educational institutions across the capital region has grown exponentially. However, children born in Boro families in Delhi NCR do not get the opportunity to learn the Boro language, to know about the literature and culture in absence of such a forum or platform, and hence, they have become accustomed to accepting the cultures of others as their own. It is already saddening to see that few countable Boro children are familiar with Boro language as their mother tongue. Additionally, in absence of a common forum for engaging in and using Boro language in larger context, those who are interested and have the expertise in Boro language are not able to contribute meaningfully Therefore, in order to facilitate preservation and promotion of Boro language, literature, and culture of the great Boro tribe, the founding members felt motivated to form this organization, which will act as a common platform for all interested and concerned well-wishers. Hence, all concerned Boros living in Delhi NCR region came together to officially form Delhi Boro Thunlai Afad (Delhi Bodo Literary Society) and for smooth functioning of the Afad an executive committee was constituted, comprising of Dr. Nirala Ramchiary as president, Dr. Alongbar Wary, as Vice president, Mr. Hemanta Swargiary as General Secretary, Ms. Kiran Boro as Assistant General Secretary, Mr. Uriyel Narzary as Publicity Secretary, Mr Jogen Basumatary as organizing secretary, Mr. Atul Ramchiary as treasurer, and Dr. Haren Ramchiary, Mr Manjit Brahma, Mr. Pitamber Brahma and Mrs. Kabita Brahma as EC members. Mr. Atul Basumatary, Mr. Brajendra Narzary and Dr. Dharitri Narzary were given the role of advisers.

AIMS AND OBJECTS OF DNBTA

The Aims and Objects of the Society are as under :

• To provide a platform for people living in India who are willing to contribute to the development of resources on the Bodo language, literature, arts, culture, film, and music.
• To promote and propagate the Bodo language, literature, and culture.
• To celebrate festivals, arrange social and cultural events, and organize seminars, sessions, and workshops in Delhi-NCR.
• To conduct cultural and literary competitions
• To hold meetings for discussion on issues and matters concerning community members, especially those living in Delhi and the National Capital Regions.
• To raise funds for helping people in need during critical times in Delhi NCR
• To publish magazines, journals, newsletters, periodicals of articles, and audios/videos related to the Boro language, literature culture, and heritage.
• To conduct classes to teach the Boro language and organize training programs on art and cultural activities such as playing musical instruments, singing, drama etc.
• To assist with available material in the development of the Boro language, literature, arts, film, and music.
• To connect, interact, and network with organizations/groups working in languages other than Boro for the development and propagation of the Boro language.
• To identify persons and felicitate and give awards to them as a mark of recognition for their significant contribution to the Boro language, literature, and culture, and preservation of other indigenous arts and cultures.
• To help interested educated persons in research works, especially in the field of Boro history, language, and literature.
• To help and give career guidance to students and educated youths of the community for admission into higher educational institutions, career choice, and other professional activities.
• To take steps and conduct activities aligned with the clauses of the constitution hereof.
• May form a trust later as per the relevant Act.

Message from President

Dr. Nirala Ramchiary

The Boro community is identified by its distinct language, literature, and culture. The development of Boro literature is ongoing, and compared to other communities, ours is still far behind. Many educated boro people are migrating from their native places and settling down in other major cities, such as Delhi and NCR region of the country, and abroad for their livelihood. As a result, the contribution that would have been expected from them towards the development of boro literature is not met due to the lack of a common platform. Further, children born out of their families are also not familiar with our native language and culture; leave aside the literature. As a result, the number of Boro speakers is decreasing. However, it is our duty to keep our distinct language, literature, and culture alive amongst ourselves and for generations to come. Therefore, the Boro people residing in Delhi and the NCR region were motivated and joined together to form the Delhi Boro Thunlai Afad, which was later renamed as the Delhi National Capital Territory Boro Thunlai Afad (Delhi NCR Bodo Sahitya Sabha).
Through this platform, we aimed to not limit ourselves to only writing about nature, short stories, poems, etc., but also to expand towards the development of literature related to science and technology, engineering, medicine, and interdisciplinary subjects.
We aim to continuously strive for the development of boro literature, teaching and spreading boro language, and showing our rich cultural heritage to people in the Delhi NCR region and beyond. Furthermore, we would like to interact, exchange ideas, and collaborate with organisations and associations working on language, literature, and culture. We invite Boro people living in the Delhi NCR region to join us and contribute to the development and spread of Boro language, literature, and culture.

Message from General Secretary

Dr. Dharitri Narzari

Delhi NCR Boro Thunlai Afad (DNBTA) as a literary society will cater to the creative needs of the Boro people, particularly living in the national capital region of Delhi. Through literature and literary production it will allow creative minds to express themselves and their own positionality in a rapidly changing society of today. ‘Thunlai’ or literature has been used as a tool throughout history for self-reflection individually and collectively. Boro language is rich, well developed and structured to allow speakers to represent their lived historical experiences succinctly. The nuanced expressions found in Boro language is incomparable. The long drawn struggle fought by our forefathers to preserve, protect and transmit the rich cultural knowledge embedded in Boro language call for veneration by every generation. The objective of DNBTA, therefore, is to work towards a common goal to promote and propagate Bodo language, literature and culture and to see the general well-being and prosperity of the Boro community as a whole.