Protecting the xatras

Basishta Deva Sarma Burha Xattriya, well-known Vaishnavite scholar and Xatradhikar of Barpeta Xatra, on Saturday made a fervent appeal to the Assam Government to take stringent action against those involved in theft and other anti-social activities in the xatras across the state. The xatra institutions established on the foundations laid by the 16th century saint-reformer Srimanta Sankaradeva, are unique epicentres of Assamese art, culture, literature, music, and society. No other saint-reformer of the country had gifted such a wonderful institution to the society as did Sankaradeva. But then, as the revered Burha Xattriya of Barpeta has pointed out, the various xatras across the state are today under tremendous pressure, with their very survival and existence being under threat. The revered Burha Xattriya was too formal when he said that this pressure and threat has been coming from certain anti-social elements. The stark reality is that the xatras and other religious institutions and places of worship are being systematically targeted by the illegal migrants and their progeny who have their roots in erstwhile East Bengal, erstwhile East Pakistan and present-day Bangladesh. Such has been the situation in the past three or four decades that large tracts of land belonging to different xatra institutions since the days of Madhavdeva, Damodardeva, Mathuradas Ata, Harideva as also from the time of the benevolent Ahom kings, are today under forcible occupation or encroachment of the illegal migrants. There have been numerous incidents of theft of xatra properties, felling of trees belonging to the xatras, and in a couple of cases also murder of xatradhikars and other xatra functionaries. Land belonging to Bordowa Xatra – where Sankaradeva was born – was freed from encroachers by the Sonowal government in 2016-17. But then, only about 1200 sq feet of about 35 acres of land which Kobaikota Satra, just four km south of Bordowa, had, is now left, after the illegal migrants have systematically occupied it and pushed out the surrounding local people by coercion of all kinds. The revered Barpeta Xatra Burha Xattriya has very rightly said that it is utmost important to protect the xatras and namghars from the anti-social forces for survival of the Assamese race, culture and society. It is time Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal took appropriate steps and ensured total protection of these unique institutions.