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Cultural programme to save Majuli River Island
by Peter Alex Todd

      Guwahati: Majuli has long been known as the cultural capital and the cradle of Assamese civilisation for the past five hundred years. But, today, it is under a serious threat of erosion from River Brahmaputra. In a special event held here recently, Kalakshetra, a cultural academy for preservation of traditional values in Indian art in Guwahati hosted a two-day cultural programme dedicated to save the world's biggest river island Majuli. Performers from Majuli staged the musical Kristir Barghar Majuli to spread awareness and send across the message to save Majuli, located in Jorhat District about 350 kilometres from Guwahati. A play was also organised to spread awareness about the prevailing condition in Majuli. Written by Pritambar Deva Goswami, the play depicted the life in Majuli and also its historical, cultural and natural heritage. It was also felt that there was need to implement the already announced measures. "A proper plan should be submitted to the Central Government for its safety. Whatever was scheduled to be done, has not yet been implemented," said Arun Sharma, Member of Parliament from Majuli. Majuli is facing a serious threat of erosion from the mighty River Brahmaputra since its water washes away the land, which requires to be stopped to save Majuli from perishing. Majuli is also considered a seat of the rich theatrical heritage of Assam's 16th century saint-reformer Srimanta Sankaradeva, the founder of the Vaishnavite movement in Assam. 'Satras' are like temples where teachings of Sankaradeva are taught and the Satriya, a devotional dance form is practiced.

     Today, due to erosion, only 22 Satras exist here. Majuli occupies an area of about 577 kms, having lost significant area due to erosion. The island is about 200 kilometres from Guwahati, and is accessible by ferries from Jorhat town. The island was formed due to course changes by the river Brahmaputra and its tributaries, mainly the Lohit. Majoli is also the abode of the Assamese neo-Vaisnavite culture. Majuli is also a haven for some of the major Assamese tribes that inclued Bodos, Kacharis, Ahoms, Deoris and others. It was the cultural capital of Assamese civilisation since the 16th century; based on written records describing the visit of Sankardeva - a 16th century social reformer. The island soon became the leading centre of Vaishavinism with the establishment of these satras. The main industry is agriculture, with paddy being the chief crop. Majuli has a rich and diverse agricultural tradition, with as many as a hundred different varieties of rice grown, all grown without pesticides or artificial fertilisers. The dwellers of Majuli are mostly tribal folk. These tribal are the mishing tribes from Arunachal Pradesh and who immigrated here centuries ago.
-Sept 28,  2006

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