International Journal of English Literature and Social Sciences Vol-10, Issue-4; Jul-Aug, 2025 Peer-Reviewed Journal Journal Home Page Available: https://ijels.com/ Journal DOI: 10.22161/ijels IJELS-2025, 10(4), (ISSN: 2456-7620) (Int. J of Eng. Lit. and Soc. Sci.) https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijels.104.6 36 Post-Independence Bodo Literature: Literary Diversity and Challenges Dr. Pranab Jyoti Narzary 1 , Prof. Anil Kumar Boro 2 1 Assistant Professor, Department of Bodo, Pandu College, Guwahati-781012, Assam, India 2 Head, Department of Folklore Research, Gauhati University, Assam, India Received: 27 May 2025; Received in revised form: 25 Jun 2025; Accepted: 02 Jul 2025; Available online: 05 Jul 2025 ©2025 The Author(s). Published by Infogain Publication. This is an open-access article under the CC BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Abstract— The post-independence era has been a transformative period for Bodo literature, witnessing remarkable growth in both form and content. Beginning with its humble literary roots in the early 20th century and propelled by the formation of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha in 1952, Bodo literature has diversified across genres—poetry, fiction, drama, essays, criticism, and children's literature. The recognition of Bodo as a scheduled language in the Indian Constitution and its inclusion in higher education curricula further accelerated this growth. The role of private and institutional publishers, women writers, digital platforms, and translation initiatives has been instrumental in enriching literary production and expanding readership. Despite significant accomplishments, challenges remain in national visibility, global outreach, and digital representation. This paper explores the journey of Bodo literature over the last seventy-five years, its achievements, current trends, and the critical gaps that need to be addressed to ensure its relevance and survival in the 21st century and beyond. Keywords— Bodo literature, post-independence, literary development, tribal language, literary challenges. INTRODUCTION The last seventy-five years have been the most productive and eventful period in the history of Bodo literature. Like other Indian languages, Bodo has witnessed remarkable literary developments across various genres over the past seven decades. Although Bodo began its literary journey in the early decades of the 20th century, it was still in its infancy in 1947 when India gained independence from British rule. Literary development in Bodo received significant momentum after the formation of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) on 16 November 1952 and the inclusion of Bodo as a medium of instruction in schools in 1963. With the growing demand for textbooks and reference materials, publication in multiple literary genres increased steadily. Besides textbooks, literary journals, poetry collections, short stories, novels, essays, critical works, and plays were published during the decades from the 1960s to the end of the 20th century. The recognition of Bodo as a scheduled language under the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution in 2003 and its inclusion as a medium of instruction and research in Gauhati University and Bodoland University marked a new era. Today, books in all genres—Kavya literature (based on oral poetry), modern poetry, drama, fiction, travelogue, children’s literature, and non-fiction prose—are regularly published. Newspapers, journals, and e-media platforms have also emerged. There is a conscious effort to preserve traditional Bodo identity and culture through literature while simultaneously exploring new themes and literary techniques. The quality of publications has improved significantly with the involvement of private publishers and government-sponsored institutions. The Sahitya Akademi has supported the publication of Bodo translations and awarded distinguished works. Institutions like the NBT and CIIL have published children's books in Bodo. The Bodo Sahitya Sabha has played a central role in publishing