Assam plans to develop birth place of Srimanta Sankardev Batadrava

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has mooted an idea of developing the birthplace of Srimanta Sankardev Batadrava as an international tourist spot and plans to place it in the national and international tourist circuit. The state government plans to develop the birthplace on the lines of the Golden Temple of Amritsar. The site is proposed to be developed as an ideal place for religious and cultural tourism.

Srimanta Sankardeva

Srimanta Sankardeva (1449–1568) is a 15th – 16th century social and religious reformer, poet, playwright and preacher of the vaishnavite cult. He was born at Alipukhuri-Bordowa in 1449. Sankaradev is credited for inspiring the Bhakti Movement in Assam just like how Guru Nanak, Ramananda, Kabir, Basava and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu inspired in the rest of the Indian subcontinent. The ideas of Sankaradev were based on Bhagavata Purana.
Sankaradev is widely credited for developing new forms of music (Borgeet); theatrical performances(Ankia Naat, Bhaona); dance form (Sattriya), and literary language namely Brajavali. In addition, the Bhagavatic religious movement started by him had influenced two medieval kingdoms-Koch and Ahom.
The contributions made by the Sankaradev are a part of living tradition in Assam even today. Teachings of Sankaradev are practised by a large section of people in Assam. His teachings have left a lasting mark on the religious and cultural life of Assam. His teachings are credited to have integrated different castes and groups of people in Assam into one cultural unit.

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2017