Guwahati, May 8 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Friday paid tribute to Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma on his Punyatithi, remembering him as a towering spiritual icon who united the Bodo community through spirituality and social reform.

In a post on X, the Chief Minister said Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma’s philosophy placed Agni as a form of Param Brahma and noted that his teachings and life journey would continue to inspire generations.

“Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma united the Bodo community through spirituality. His philosophy places Agni as a form of Param Brahma. Remembering the great spiritual icon on his Punyatithi. His teachings and life journey will continue to inspire generations,” Sarma wrote.

Kalicharan Brahma is regarded as one of the foremost spiritual and social reformers of the Bodo community in Assam. Born in the late 19th Century in present-day Kokrajhar district, he played a pivotal role in initiating religious and social awakening among the Bodos during a period marked by social divisions and identity challenges.

He founded the Brahma religion movement among the Bodos, advocating spiritual discipline, moral living, social unity and education. His teachings sought to reform social practices within the community and encourage a more organised spiritual identity rooted in faith and self-discipline.

Historians and community leaders have often credited him with laying the foundation for social transformation among the Bodos by emphasising unity, cleanliness, education and cultural pride.

His influence extended beyond religion and contributed significantly to the shaping of modern Bodo identity in Assam.

Several organisations and members of the Bodo community across Assam also paid homage to the reformer on the occasion of his Punyatithi on Friday.

Programmes remembering his contributions were held in parts of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), with speakers highlighting his role in strengthening social harmony and spiritual consciousness among the people.

Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma continues to be revered across Assam, particularly among the Bodo community, for his enduring contributions to spiritual thought and social reform.

–IANS

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