Guwahati: Assam is now a step closer to being prepared to host the 500-year-old Vrindavani Vastra — the silk textile that was crafted in the 16th century under the guidance of Srimanta Sankardeva — on its visit home on loan from the British Museum.CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the cultural museum project, which will be housing the magnificent textile.
This historic textile, a cultural tapestry, will return to its homeland in 2027 for a temporary public exhibition. During its display, it will be housed in a cultural museum located on nearly two acres of land near the sericulture department in the city’s Khanapara area, under strict environmental and security conditions in accordance with the protocols established by the British Museum.The JSW group has stepped forward to build the cultural museum as part of their CSR initiative. The project will be completed within 18 months.According to the museum website, the textile measures 937 centimetres in length and 231 centimetres in width. “Each strip is made up of registers of repeating images illustrating Vaisnava and specifically Krishna-related stories. They are all important elements of the Krishna devotion associated with the Assamese mystic and teacher, Sankaradeva,” the website reads.Speaking about the rarity of the textile, Sarma said the 500-year-old piece can be viewed only with special permission from the state or central govt. Based on this, the museum authorities schedule a specific date for viewing, as the textile is aging slowly and is carefully undergoing preservation.Describing the return of Sankardeva’s timeless creation as a significant milestone, he said, “For an Assamese person, the Vrindavani Vastra is not merely an ordinary piece of cloth, it embodies deep emotion, a sense of nationality, and ethnic consciousness.”He added that when he assumed office, PM Narendra Modi had advised him to focus on both ‘vikas’ (development) and ‘virasat’ (heritage) simultaneously.He said Assam aims to preserve and carry forward its artistic, cultural, and traditional legacy. He added that the lands which have been recovered from encroachment will never be encroached upon again. “The Vrindavani Vastra demonstrates that we are the heirs of such a remarkable tradition. How immense was our wisdom and knowledge, and how proud were we to be their custodians,” he said.Richard Blurton, a cultural historian of South Asia, also highlighted that the textile stands as a testament to the remarkable skills of Assamese weavers and their mastery of the Lampas technique, which is one of its most outstanding features.
