Bodo Sahitya Sabha
Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) is a non-political group that works to promote the Bodo language and Bodo literature. It was founded on 16 November 1952 in Basugaon, Goalpara district (now Chirang), Assam, under the leadership of Joy Bhadra Hagjer. The group brought together Bodo writers from Assam and other states, and even from abroad.
Why it was formed
After India gained independence, many Bodo intellectuals felt the language needed stronger protection and development. Bodo was often taught in schools with Assamese or Bengali as the medium, so the Sabha worked to preserve and grow Bodo as a language of education and culture.
Key milestones
- Bodo became a medium of instruction in primary schools in 1963 and in secondary schools in 1968.
- Bodo language and literature were recognized as Major Indian Languages (MIL) by Gauhati University, Dibrugarh University, and North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU).
- In 2004, Bodo was recognized as an associated state official language of Assam.
- Higher education: Post-graduate courses in Bodo language and literature began at Gauhati University in 1996 and later at Bodoland University in Kokrajhar.
- The Sabha supports language development, including creating more than 40,000 scientific and technical terms in Bodo.
- There are efforts and recognition related to Bodo by national bodies, and talks about including Bodo in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
- The Sabha has produced many Bodo books across genres, including prose, poetry, drama, short stories, novels, biographies, travel writing, children’s literature, and criticism.
Awards and events
- Since 1993, the Someswari Brahma Literary Award is given annually to Bodo writers. It comes from a donation of Rs. 55,000 by Trailokya Brahma of Patakata; the prize is Rs. 5,000 plus a citation.
Other notes
- The Bodo Sahitya Sabha is headquartered at Rupnath Brahma Bhawan, Kokrajhar, in the Bodoland Territorial Region of Assam.
- The 58th Annual Conference was held beginning 22 January 2019 at Daimalu High School playground, Gohpur, in Biswanath district, Assam.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 08:49 (CET).