Governor on teachings of Sankaradeva, Madhabdeva

GUWAHATI, June 20: Assam Governor Banwarilal Purohit said that he has highest reverence for Vaishvite saints Sankardev and Madhabdev who shaped the social, cultural and spiritual life of the people of Assam and have had cascading effect on every walks of life of the State.
Responding to a press release by Dr. Sanjib Kumar Borkakoti, president of Society for Srimanta Sankardeva and a news item appeared on a section of electronic media on his comments on Sankardev and Madhabdev vis-a -vis their influence on the social life of the people of Assam, the Governor said that the fact has been misunderstood and blown out of context. Referring to his statement on Sankardeva made at Maniari Mahapurushiya Xattra in Kamrup district on June 18, he said that the Xattras and mghars which were set up to practice and propagate the teachings of Mahapurush Sankardev and Madhabdev must transform themselves into centres of intellectual stimulations. He also said that based on the teachings of Sankardev and Madhabdev the Xattras and mghars are working on social transformation by discouraging superstitious practices like caste discrimition and other social evils.
However, his comment that the society could not take much of the teachings from the Vaishvite saints in the area of child marriage, that the Governor quoted from a book med 'The Mystical Thoughts of Sri Sri Sankardeva and Sri Sri Madhabdeva' by Dr. Nirupama Mahanta in page 167 paragraph 3, where it is written, "In the first place, as social reformers, Sankardeva and Madhavdeva undoubtedly occupy an elevated position. They have made immense contributions to construct an ideal society free from the evil elements like superstitions, caste prejudice, untouchability etc. But, Sankardeva and Madhavdeva have ignored one serious type of social evil. It is the child marriage. The child marriage is certainly a bad social custom. Sankardeva and Madhavdeva are found not to make any attempt to abolish child marriage."
The Governor had made a reference to this during his speech while eulogizing the ideologies of the Gurujo to address all social evils and reforms in the society to the fullest possible extent. Having made the statement, the Governor emphasized that Sankardeva and Madhabdev were social reformers who worked untiringly for the emancipation of people and give them the way of enlightened lives.  The Assamese society has no existence without Sankardev and Madhabdev.
After taking over the gubertorial post has been making an extensive study on the life and works of both the saints and the Governor and has been overwhelmed by the teachings and philosophies of both the scholars.
In the present context, it may be mentioned that Dr. Nirupama Mahanta, an Associate professor in Philosophy at Handique Girls'College, obtained her Ph.D degree in 1986 from Gauhati University on the topic: A Study of the Mystical Thoughts of Sri Sri Sankardeva and Sri Sri Madhavdeva.