City ashram draws roadmap for model xatra

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Oct 5: Just freed from encroachers, for Sri Sri Dakshinpat Xatra Shanti Ashram, located at Mother Teresa Path in the Geeta gar area in the city, the sky is the limit.

The Sri Sri Dakshinpat Xatra Shanti Ashram Sanrakshan Samiti has decided to make the Ashram a model xatra in the State – with a whole lot of facilities for the propagation of neo-vaishvism and the teachings of Srimanta Saknkardeva, Sri Madhavdeva and Sri Damodhardeva.

Taking to newsmen at the Xatra today, Xatradhikar nigopal Devagoswami, who is also the president of the Ashram Sanrakshan Samiti, said: “Noted architect Arup Das has been entrusted with the responsibility of preparing the master plan of the model xatra within three months. Some of the important facilities which the Xatra is set to have are – a research centre for Xatriya Culture and literature; a museum; a yoga centre (dhyagar), a centre for research and development of folk art, especially Borgeet and xatriya dance; a hospital for tural cure through yoga, herbal healing and ayurveda; a dormitory so as to provide shelter to lakhs of pilgrims who keep visiting the city; a research and study centre for the uplift of neo-vaishvism and for the propagation of the teachings of Srimanta Sankardeva, Sri Madhabdeva and Sri Damodhardeva.”

Devagoswami said: “After the preparation of the master plan of the model xatra, we’re going to seek funds from the Centre, the State Government and intertiol fincial institutions and individuals for the implementation of the plan. The master plan is set to be completed within three months, and the work of the project will start from March next.”

Sri Sri Dakshinpat Xatra Shanti Ashram is one of the 14 branches of Dakshinpat Xatra of Majuli. This branch of the Xatra in Guwahati was set up in 1968 by the then Assam Chief Minister Mahendra Mohan Choudhury by giving it settlement of land.  Ironically, 28 bigha land of the Xatra had all along been under the encroachment of as many as 30 families. It is the Sarbanda Sonowal-led BJP government that has freed the Xatra land from encroachment.

Dakshinpat Xatra has another branch at Tokobari in Guwahati. The xatra has 12 bighas of land, but the land has been encroached upon. According to Devagoswami, as its last vestige, Dakshinpat Xatra branch at Tokobari has only a amghar.

On behalf of the samiti, Devagoswami expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal and his Cabinet, Kamrup (Metro) Deputy Commissioner M Angamuthu and Guwahati Police Commissioner Haren th. This is the first step from a government at Dispur to have honoured the ideology set by the great religious reformers of Assam like Srimanta Sankardeva. However, we want to appeal to the government to give a succour to BPL encroachers of xatra land after their eviction.”

Devagoswami further said: “The newly-built kirtanghar of this Xatra will be formally iugurated in Bohag next year. In June this year, Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal also laid the foundation of a gurugriha (mentor’s house) at this Xatra. The work of the building is going on in full swing.”