Dr Sanjib Kumar Borkakoti

A 45 day workshop on Aharya of Ankiya Bhaona organised by Society for Srimanta Sankaradeva was inaugurated on Dec 14 at Dhing by Bhadrakrishna Goswami, former President of Asom Sattra Mahasabha by lighting traditional lamp. In this workshop, costume making, ornament making, mask making, make-up etc will be taught practically and elaborately by leading experts of Assam. The objective is that the trainees should set up own workshops for producing these items and thus become self-employed after the training. Unemployed youths from different parts of Assam are being trained. The workshop is sponsored by Sattriya Kendra of Sangeet Natak Akademi. It is for the first time that such a comprehensive workshop on Aharjya of Ankiya Bhaona is being organised in Assam. In fact this is the first time that any such workshop on Aharya is being organised anywhere in India for any type of drama form. It is thus an epoch making event. The inauguration of the workshop was addressed by Devananda

A National seminar on Srimanta Sankaradeva's Contributions was held in Madhupur Than, Kochbehar under the aegis of Society for Srimanta Sankaradeva on November 23, 2014. Several scholars from both Assam and West Bengal spoke on the life and works of Srimanta Sankaradeva in the seminar. The scholars from West Bengal were Prasenjit Barman, former MP and Member of Kochbehar Debottar Trust, Himadri Sankar Bhattacharjee of Kochbehar, Dr Nripendra Nath Paul of Kochbehar, and Dr Sachindra Nath Roy of Kochbehar. Prasenjit Barman said that history of West Bengal was incomplete without Srimanta Sankaradeva. It was suggested by Dr Sachindra Nath Roy that a centre of research on Srimanta Sankaradeva be set up in Madhupur Than. Himadri Sankar Bhattacharjee said that the priests of Kochbehar even now recited verses composed by the saint. There were numerous suggestions by the participants to make Madhupur a centre of attraction. Extention of Railway line and setting up of a Railway st

A famous Gurucharit,  'Sankar Charit' written by Bhushan Dwija    is now available again after several decades.  I have edited this early hagiography of Srimanta Sankaradeva, written in the medieval era. It is considered to be a very valuable Gurucharit. It was earlier edited by Durgadhar Barkataki, but it was out of print since long ago. I have re-edited this valuable classic. It is published by  Bani Mandir . Another famous Gurucharit, 'Sriguru Charit' written by Ramananda Dwija is also now available again after several decades. I have edited this early hagiography of Srimanta Sankaradeva written in the medieval era by the erstwhile Sattradhikar of Kaljhar Sattra. It is considered to be a very valuable Gurucharit. It was first published by Haribilas Agarwala. The second edition, published by Harinarayan Dutta Barua was edited by Maheswar Neog, but that too was out of print since long ago. I have re-edited this valuable classic. It is published by  Bani Mandir

Mahapurusha Madhavadeva (1489 AD-1596 AD) was a genius with multi-dimensional contributions to the socio-cultural life of Assam. His activities encompassed so many dimensions that their impact has lasted several centuries and engulfed the entire Assamese race in its ambit. He was basically a religious preacher, who dedicated his life to spread the Eka Sharana Nâma Dharma founded by his preceptor, saint Srimanta Sankaradeva (1449 AD-1568 AD). The basic philosophy of this religious order was that one should worship a single God, lord Krishna. Madhavadeva helped Srimanta Sankaradeva in establishing peace among the strife-torn ethnic groups of the valley. "Mahapurusha Sri Sri Madhavadeva : a life sketch" is my latest book about Mahapurusha Madhavadeva. It is published by Bhabani Books, Guwahati. It is a 96 page book with several photographs. The ISBN number is 978-93-82624-82-0. The joint portrait of Srimanta Sankaradeva and Madhavadeva on the cover is by Bishnu Prasad Rabha.

Society for Srimanta Sankaradeva (SSS) celebrated a unique event ‘Nagaon Friendship Day’ on January 5, 2014 in Nagaon.  The event honored a few individuals contributing to Sankari culture. It also highlighted the egalitarianism and universal brotherhood preached by Srimanta Sankaradeva. A Friendship Walk took place in the Nagaon town on that morning. There were display of different facets of Sankari culture like Gayan-Bayan, Naam-Kirtan, Bhaona, Mask, Diha-Naam, Thiyanam, Sattriya Nritya etc in the walk. Several social organizations including Batadrava Than, Asom Sattra Mahasabha, Srimanta Sankaradeva Sangha, Sutradhaar and Kalang Kala Kendra took part in the Walk. The participants of the Walk later took a pledge. The pledge was : I take a vow to do my best to uphold and spread the legacy bequeathed by Srimanta Sankaradeva. I will tell my non-Assamese friends about the life and works of Srimanta Sankaradeva. I will see at least one Bhaona every year. I will read at least tw