Assam Govt. signs MoU with Visva Bharati University to promote teachings of Srimanta Sankardeva

To promote the teachings and research of Srimanta Sankardeva and his Bhakti Movement beyond the borders of Assam and India, the Assam government on Aug 29 inked an MoU with Visva Bharati University (VBU) for establishing the Srimanta Sankardeva Chair at the university.

Chief Minister Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the government would provide a one-time grant of ₹5 crore to establish the chair as a part of the MoU.

The MoU was signed by Madhu Sudan Nath, the Secretary of Higher Education of the Assam government, and Ashok Kumar Mahato, Registrar of Visva Bharati University in the presence of CM Sarma at a function held at Janata Bhawan in Guwahati.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister thanked the Visva Bharati University, its Vice Chancellor, and other faculties for partnering with the Assam government in promoting the studies and research of Srimanta Sankardeva's Bhakti Movement.

"Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva's teachings have illuminated Assam through centuries and united Sanatan Dharma by relegating individual caste identities,” Sarma said, according to media reports.

“The MoU will help the academic fraternity to utilize the opportunity to study and undertake research of the teachings and philosophies of Gurujona and his contribution to Indian society," he added.

The chair at VBU will be a boost to doctoral and post-doctoral research on the Bhakti Movement, according to Sarma.
The Assam Chief Minister hailed the initiative of VBU in supporting the Assam government’s endeavor of giving to the world the ethos of Sankardeva's teachings, which are embedded with the spirit of cultural nationalism.

“During the 15th and 16th centuries, Sankardeva was the only scholar who taught the people the essence of unity and dismissed the narrow considerations of caste and creed. The society of Assam has subsequently taken the form that truly reflects the ethos of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva's philosophy,” Sarma added.

Srimanta Sankardeva was a 15th–16th-century Assamese polymath, a saint-scholar, poet, playwright, dancer, actor, musician, artist social-religious reformer, and an important figure in the cultural and religious history of the Bhakti movement in Assam.

The event was presided over by Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu, VC Visva Bharati University Arabinda Mondal, VC Gauhati University Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta, Padadhikar Srimanta Sankar Sangha Bhabendra Nath Deka, VC Bhattadev University Dhanapati Deka, VC Birangana Sati Sadhini Raijyik Viswavidyalaya Prof. G. Singaiah, VC Cotton University Professor Ramesh Chandra Deka and other dignitaries.