It is a proud moment for Assam that the London-based British Museum has agreed to lend the unique silk cloth ‘Vrindavani Vastra’ created by 16th century great man and Vaishnav saint Srimanta Shankardev to the state for exhibition in 2027. Announcing this on Saturday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma said that for a long time the state government was trying to bring this heritage to the public and now this dream is going to come true. This cloth will be displayed in Assam for 18 months.
A state-of-the-art museum will be mandatory
Chief Minister Sharma said that the British Museum has laid down some conditions for sending this heritage to Assam. The most important of these is that a state-of-the-art museum should be built in the state, which can meet the safety and environmental standards. After reviewing the existing museums, the officials of the British Museum found them unsuitable. That is why it has been decided to build a new museum. For this, the JSW Group has come forward, which will build this museum under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative and hand it over to the state as a gift. The state government has already allotted land for this.
Sovereign guarantee sought from the Centre
The Chief Minister said that it is necessary to assure the British Museum that the ‘Vrindavani Vastra’ will be returned safely after the completion of the 18-month exhibition period. For this, he has written a letter to the Central Government and requested for a ‘sovereign guarantee’. This undertaking will assure the British Museum that this invaluable heritage will be returned on time without any damage. Sharma said that this is a matter of pride not only for Assam but for the entire country, as this heritage is a symbol of Indian culture and tradition.
History and importance of ‘Vrindavani Vastra’
‘Vrindavani Vastra’ was prepared under the guidance of Saint Srimanta Shankardev on the request of Koch King Nar Narayan. It depicts glimpses of the life of Lord Krishna and also includes a part of a poem written by Shankardev. Made of silk, this cloth is nine and a half meters long and was made by joining 15 different pieces. This precious heritage, which reached Tibet from Assam, was included in the collection of the British Museum in the year 1904. It is not only a symbol of religious faith but also an excellent proof of Assam’s weaving art and craftsmanship, which shows the confluence of various artistic traditions. Now in 2027, when this heritage returns to Assam, it will provide a historic opportunity to the people of the state to connect with their cultural heritage.
