Kokrajhar, Nov. 1: The All Bodo Students Union (Absu) is all set to celebrate its golden jubilee with four days of colourful programmes from February 12 next year in Kokrajhar.

Absu president Pramod Boro today formally inaugurated the mascot - a honey bee named Birgwsri - of the golden jubilee celebrations at Bodofa House, the union's central office here.

The mascot has been named after Birgwsri, the great Bodo warrior who died fighting for her people during the early 19th century. Birgwsri aka Tengpakri was a legendary heroine of the Bodos or the Mechs. She was a freedom fighter and became a martyr fighting against the British army in the Bhutan war of 1864.

"We want to honour and commemorate Birgwsri for her heroic deed and supreme sacrifice for her people and the country at the golden jubilee celebration," Boro said.

"Moreover, we have chosen honey bee as the mascot as it is a symbol of fertility, community, prosperity, diligence and work ethic. Bees are highly organised, laborious, disciplined, tireless, colonial, social and polymorphic insects. Hence, to project a united, vibrant, progressive and respected organisation, eager to reclaim the past glory of Bodos as a master race, Absu is notably inspired to march from the front as spiritedly as the industrious honey bee," he said.

He said the landmark of 50 years of contributions of Absu to the Bodo community gives an opportunity to focus on building their unity for a shared destiny, continued existence and development. Hence, the celebration has been designed to inspire unity in Bodo nationalism, the union leader said.

A reception committee for the celebration, led by Subung Basumatary, has been formed to make it a grand success.

Earlier, a meeting of the reception committee was held, where it stressed the need to highlight the works and history of Absu, its role and responsibilities, worth and credibility towards fulfilling its vision of establishing the Bodos as a master race in the world.

A colourful souvenir reflecting 50 years of Absu's history will be brought out on the occasion. A strong editorial board has been formed with Ajit Boro as chairman and Mihir Kumar Brahma as chief editor.

Absu was formed on February 15, with the vision to unite the students of various Bodo groups living in different parts of the world and bring them under an organisation for better and mutual understanding, safeguard and develop the socio-economy, culture, tradition, language and literature of the community. Baneswar Basumatary and late Kanakeswar Narzary (Khungkra) were the founder president and general secretary of the students' union.

The union president said leaders of various organisations from across the country, "who are struggling like us and helped us in our struggle", will be invited at the programme.