Anti-Terrorism Day by ABSU

Ranjan K. Baruah

(Readers may send feedback at bkranjan@gmail.com.)

None of us wants conflicts and violence, as they affect our lives directly. We have been hearing the word terrorism since our childhood days, and the Pahalgam attack this year was another inci-dent where terrorists have shown inhumane and anti-human activities, killing innocent tourists. We know the names like Osama Bin Laden and many others who are still patronising terrorism in many parts of India. We have lost many lives due to terrorist activities in our region and in other parts of the country.

We know that terrorism is the calculated use of violence, or the threat of violence, to create fear and achieve political, ideological, or religious goals. It often targets civilians or non-combatants to coerce governments or populations into specific actions. For us the 2025 Pahalgam attack was a terrorist attack on tourists by five armed terrorists near Pahalgam in Kashmir in which 26 civi-lians were killed on 22 April 2025. The Government of India had to launch Operation Sindoor after the incident to eliminate terrorists and their camps.

In Assam and NortheastIndia we have seen many violent conflicts and terrorist activities. After the signing of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) Accord 2020, peace has been restored in the region. We have not seen any forms of violent activities or any kind of explosives or killing in the last five years. The good governance led by the chief executive member of BTR, Pramod Boro, is also to be mentioned in maintaining peace in the region. Boro is also a former president of the All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU), which is the largest ethnic students union in the re-gion.

Every year July 30 is observed as 'Anti-Terrorism Day' by ABSU, commemorating the death of Jwhwlao Swmbla Basumatary, the then president of the ABSU in 1996. The 29th death anniver-sary of Jwhwlao Swmbla Basumatary shall be observed by the ABSU at Jwhwlao Swmbla Ba-sumatary Park, Goibari, near Basugaon in Chirang district, Assam, on Wednesday.

The day is observed, signifying the life and philosophy of Jwhwlao Swmbla Basumatary towards building a healthy, democratic, and non-violent society amongst the Bodos and in the entire BTR, state, and nation. Anti-Terrorism Day is organized by ABSU to shun violence and arms culture from the society.

The day has been observed in the past with various activities like signature campaigns, blood do-nation camps, seminars, and meetings. Different intellectuals, political leaders, civil society ac-tivities, social workers, and leading personalities are invited every year to voice out against ter-rorism and its impacts.

Through this programme, the ABSU reaffirmed its commitment to making the society free from terror of all forms that hampers human life and dignity and called upon all to come together to uphold the peace and communal harmony. ABSU observes the International Day of Non-Violenceevery year and leads a campaign to make the society free from illegal weapons. ABSU has been following the practice of Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma, who campaigned for 'Live and let live.'

There is no doubt that terrorism is one of the greatest enemies of humanity, and all of us must fight against it if we want to build a sustainable future and vibrant civil society. Let us always stand united when there is a fight against terrorism, and at the same time let us all pray to the al-mighty to bless the souls who have become the victims of terrorism. ABSU has been leading the way in this regard by observing the 30th of July as Anti-Terrorism Day.