Let it fly high – the Tiranga!

Shri Pramod Boro

(Chief Executive Member, BTC)

On this auspicious day, the 15th of August 2025, we, the people of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), join the rest of India in joyfully celebrating our 79th Independence Day. This day holds deep emotional, political and historical significance, reminding all of us about the sacrifices made by countless freedom fighters who dreamed of a sovereign, united Bharat. Just as we salute the Tiranga, today is the time to salute and honour all our martyrs for their supreme sacrifices! India’s freedom was not just the end of a colonial rule in 1947 but the birth of the largest democracy in the world! This democratic nation has survived and also thrived, gaining momentum and strength over the years. Today is also the moment to salute all the Prime Ministers of India, right from Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru onwards till date. They have led India through the vicissitudes of time, ever enhancing its stature among the global powers of the contemporary world. Today, under the leadership of the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi Ji, India is well on its path to reclaim its position as the ‘Vishwa Guru’—a world leader in knowledge, culture and spirituality! The vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 is already propelling us further towards achieving its rightful greatness and glory. 

Let us grow it deeper and fly it higher still—our national flag—the Tiranga! Let it grow deeper in our hearts and fly higher over our lands! The Tiranga has been a symbol of our sovereignty, national pride, emotions, ideas and values, representing the hopes and aspirations of all Indians. It evolved through India’s freedom struggle in the first half of the 20th century and was finally adopted by the Constituent Assembly, in its present form, on the 22nd of July 1947. It has been hoisted from the ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi since the 15th of August, 1947, the day our country became independent from the British. Today, the love for our national flag is symbolized by our resolve to hoist it in every home: the biggest nationwide Jan Bhagidari Andolan – Har Ghar Tiranga!

This version of the Indian flag had taken form and shape, first, after a young Pingali Venkaiah proposed the design to Mahatma Gandhi during the Indian National Congress session held at Vijayawada in 1921. His proposal featured three horizontal bands – red, white and green – symbolising unity among India’s diverse communities, with a spinning wheel at the centre to represent national progress. Thereafter, in India’s walk towards freedom, this flag epitomised unity—a powerful instrument of resistance against the British politics of divide-and-rule. The flag came to be associated with the reimagined aspirations of a new nationhood for India. In the face of hatred, communal divide and oppressive excesses perpetrated by the British colonisers, at one and the same time, the Tiranga sparked the spirit of unity, courage and sacrifice among the Indians. A decade later, in 1931, the design of the flag was officially embraced by the leaders of our Freedom Movement. Red gave way to saffron, embodying courage; white stood for peace and truth; and green reflected growth and fertility. The Ashoka Chakra that later replaced the spinning wheel at the centre represented India’s age-old universal principles of truth and dharma. 

On this day, the 79th Independence Day of India, let us reignite our commitment, faith and belief in the ideals embodying our Tiranga. Just as Martyr Chandra Shekar Azad’s words, “My name is ‘Azad’, and my father’s name is ‘Swatantra’,” inspired fearless defiance and unflinching loyalty to India’s freedom, let us awaken today to the call to uphold liberty, resist oppression, and honour the sacrifices that shaped our nation’s sovereign identity. As India strides confidently into the future, this day inspires us to uphold the values that define our nation: unity in diversity, democratic strength, spiritual depth, historical greatness, and cultural richness. The 79th Independence Day is a moment to reflect, rejoice, and renew our pledge to build an India that honours its glorious past and also embraces a brighter tomorrow for everybody.

It is a delightful feeling of freedom for us, the people of the Bodoland Territorial Region, to once again be able to hoist the Tiranga with honour and pride, and without fear of intimidation. Gone are the four-decade-long dark days of violence, conflict and bloodshed! The illegal weapons and gun culture that once characterized our Bodoland region have perished altogether. The fratricidal killings, torture, rape and kidnappings—gone are those days of gloom and doom! For us, the Bodo Peace Accord 2020 marked the onset of a new era: a moment in history when the historical trajectory of the Bodoland region shifted from sangharsh to nirman. This hard-won peace accord brought to us the good fortune to translate our collective vision for peace into tangible actions on the ground. Since December 2020, when our BTR government took office, we have been rooting for peace, healing, good governance and all-round development of every person, group and community.

Today, we feel it in our hearts—the deeper we sow the seeds of peace in Bodoland, the higher the Tiranga soars above us! The more we honour the dreams and distinct voices of our communities, the grander our Tiranga unfurls in pride! And once again, it becomes clear—the stronger our unity, the brighter the Tiranga shines across our skies! What a powerful reflection of our shared spirit, vitality and hope!

As we unfurl the Tiranga on the 79th Independence Day of India, we salute it as a living symbol of unity, resilience, and shared purpose in our midst. The people of BTR, shaped by a history of struggle and sacrifice, now stand united in our commitment to peace and progress. Across all communities there is a growing sense of purpose now: to build a culture of peace and harmony where every voice is heard, every culture respected, and every aspiration cherished. This collective vision is not just about development; it is about community revitalisation, caring, dignity and healing.

Gone are the days when fear and division cast long shadows over Bodoland. The people remember too well the pain of conflict, the silence of lost lives, and the weight of broken trusts. That memory fuels a powerful resolve amongst us to never let those dark days return. Today, our fathers and mothers speak of unity with pride, our brothers and sisters dream of opportunity without fear, our children plant trees for a green future, and our leaders have all pledged to protect the peace that has been so dearly earned. In Bodoland, the Tiranga flies high not just in celebration, but in defiance of hatred, division, and neglect.

I believe that another world is possible: a world full of love, care and honour... but for that we must read the book of humanity, which is not available in the market; it is to be found only in our hearts. Every school built, every road paved, every literature festival held, and every football match played is a step towards a brighter and happier Bodoland: peaceful, smart, and green!Our people know that true progress lies in togetherness, unity and shared harmony. They look ahead with courage, determined to keep the Tiranga flying high—as our national flag, and also as a living witness to our collective journey of change and transformation. It is a promise etched in every heart: that Bodoland will never again be torn apart by violence but will rise as a model of peace, unity and shared destiny. The Tiranga flies in our hearts too! And may we all continue to hoist it forever there, with love, with honour, and with the unshakeable belief that peace has been our greatest triumph!