HT Correspondent
JORHAT, Feb 7: The number of devotees and visitors attending the four-day 94th conference of the Srimanta Sankardev Sangha, being held at Eraltoli Pathar, Mohbandha on the western outskirts of the city, increased manifold on the second day on Friday.
Volunteers from the Seva Bahini (volunteers) of the Sangha, dressed in traditional attire and singing devotional songs, welcomed the people at the entrance to the Sonaram Chutia Samannay Kshetra, which spans over 1,200 bighas.
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Among the events organised today was the open meeting of the Sahitya Sakha Samiti, presided over by Jagat Chandra Kalita, president of the Samiti. The meeting was attended by State Education minister Ranoj Pegu.
Dr Pegu praised Srimanta Sankardev for his contribution to religious awakening and social reforms.
“Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev not only spearheaded the Bhakti Movement in the northeastern part of India but also contributed tremendously to the cultural and spiritual fields of greater Assam,” he added.
Dr Pegu also emphasised that Sankardev had put forward a model for a disciplined and spiritual society. He also mentioned that the proposal for granting classical language (Drupadi Bhaxa) status, which had been submitted to the central government, included the writings and essays of the Mahapurush as a substantial part of the document.
Stating that the people of Assam should remain forever grateful to Srimanta Sankardev for his literary and cultural legacy, the minister said that the state government was working toward propagating his philosophy and teachings at both the national and international levels.
In this regard, chairs named after Srimanta Sankardev have been established at Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Punjab University. Dr Pegu further mentioned that an initiative is underway to establish a chair in his name at Visva Bharati in Shantiniketan, West Bengal.
He praised the Srimanta Sankardev Sangha for their efforts in propagating the teachings of Gurujona.
Earlier, Dr Ashok Kumar Borah, a retired professor from Gauhati University, inaugurated the session. Dr Anjana Kumar Ojha, retired principal of Chaiduar College, was the appointed speaker.
The Padadhikar of the Sangha, Bhabendranath Deka, and general secretary Kushal Thakuria also attended the meeting.
