It was a 21-year-wait, but it was worth it, the locals say. After a wait of over two decades, a Kalakshetra in the name of Sri Sri Madhabdev, the spiritual heir of great Vaishnavite saint of Assam, Srimanta Sankardev, at Narayanpur in Lakhimpur district of Assam was inaugurated by Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, sending natives of Narayanpur into ecstasy.
Coincidentally, Narayanpur’s Letekupukhuri is the birthplace of 12 holy gurus of Assam and is considered a holy place. It was also the centre of Vaishnavism during the era of Sri Sri Madhabdev.
Bhupen Baruah Borbayan, present Satrdhikar of Badala Padma Aata Satra in Narayanpur, told Asom Barta that Madhavdev’s contribution to “Eksarana Nama Dharma” and Assamese literature and culture was immense but there was hardly any effort from previous political dispensations to patronise research and a study on him. “People of Narayanpur formed a Madhabdev Kalakshetra Dabi Samiti and had sought from the Assam Government a Madhabdev Kalakshetra in 2002. The 44 bighas of land where the Kalakshetra is standing now was donated by our late Satradhikar Srikanta Goswami in 2007. The Satradhikar passed away in 2020,” he informed this reporter.
For the record, Sri Sri Badala Padma Ata Satra was established in 1636 by Sri Sri Badala Padma Ata, a disciple of Madhabdev.
Jiwan Bhuyan (87), a retired teacher and a prominent native of Narayanpur, lauded the initiative as well. “This is a fantastic step by the Assam Government. It will help spread Mahapurush Madhabdev’s ideals and his contributions,” Bhuyan told this newsletter over phone. “The move of the State Government will also help preserve Satra culture, which is of utmost importance for the people of the State,” he added.
Coinciding with the second anniversary celebration of his Government, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma inaugurated Sri Sri Madhabdev Kalakshetra besides ‘inaugurating and laying the foundation stones’ of several projects in the district.
After inaugurating the Kalakshetra, the Chief Minister inspected facilities on the premises and offered his prayers for the well-being of the people of Assam at the Namghar of the Kalakshetra. He also planted a seedling of Barhamthuri on the premises and released fishlings at a pond there.
Stating that the history of Vaishnavism is very ancient in India, Dr Sarma said that Mahapurush Madhabdev was a leading force amongst the spiritual personalities who helped Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev to build a strong foundation of the Bhakti movement in Assam. He said that the coming together of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev and Sri Sri Madhabdev for the cause of Bhakti movement was a landmark event in Indian history which also had a profound impact in the spiritual, cultural, social, and intellectual history of Assam.
Chandra Hazarika (63), a former principal of Narayanpur Higher Secondary School, recounted the wait that locals had to endure.
“We are happy over the formal inauguration of Madhabdev Kalakshetra. We had to wait for it for over 21 years. Now, it has become a reality. Narayanpur is also known as Bor Narayanpur as 12 different Atas of Assam’s Bhakti movement were born in greater Narayanpur. This Kalakshetra will play a key role in establishing our town as an important tourism site in days to come,” said Hazarika.
The Assam Chief Minister announced that arrangements will be made for a sound and light show at Sri Sri Madhabdev Kalakshetra highlighting the bhakti movement and the life and philosophy of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev and Sri Sri Madhabdev. He added that the construction of the next phase of the Kalakshetra will start soon.
Dr. Samra also launched the construction of Madhabdev University which will be set up on 55 bighas of land. Dr. Sarma said that his Government will spend ₹ 150 cr in two phases for construction of the University.
Purnananda Bhuyan (74) of Saudkuchi area of Narayanpur appreciated the efforts of the Assam Chief Minister for taking concrete steps to preserve and popularise the works of both Srimanta Sankardev and Sri Sri Madhabdev. “The new Kalakshetra will trigger enthusiasm among scholars and enthusiasts to know about Madhabdev’s contribution towards the ‘Ek Saran Naam Dharma’ and the composite culture of Assam,” Bhuyan said.
Among those present during the inauguration were Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, Cultural Affairs Minister Bimal Bora, Tezpur MP Pallab Lochan Das, and Narayanpur MLA Dr. Amiya Kumar Bhuyan.
