Assam: Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra Society Partners with 12 Universities to Preserve Cultural Heritage

GUWAHATI: The Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra Society (SSKS) has made a notable move in preserving Assam's cultural heritage by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 12 universities across the state. The initiative aims to carry out an extensive cultural mapping of Assam’s diverse ethnic communities. The MoU was officially signed during a ceremony attended by Assam's Cultural Affairs Minister, Bimal Borah.

The minister stated on X, “In a bold and pioneering initiative, Assam stands as the only state in the nation creating a cultural map of its distinct art, wisdom, philosophy, and ethnicity, to preserve its rich cultural and traditional identity for future generations.”

The agreement with SSKS was signed by Gauhati University Registrar Hementa Kumar Nath, Dibrugarh University Registrar Paramanda Sonowal, Tezpur University Registrar Kailash Chandra Biswal, Assam University’s Prof. Pijush Pandey, Cotton University Registrar Arindam Garg, Bodoland University Registrar S. Basumatary, Madhavdev University Registrar Khirpada Dutta, Down Town University Dean Utpal Dutta, Sankardeva University Registrar Bichitra Bikash, Royal Global University Registrar Diganta Munchi, and Pragjyotishpur University Vice Chancellor Smriti Kumar Singha.

The universities have been tasked with gathering secondary data, records, and research materials to support the cultural mapping initiative. Majuli Cultural University is also expected to join the collaboration.The cultural mapping project is led by the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra Society, operating under the Assam Cultural Affairs Department.

The project will aim to document the art, traditions, and ethnic diversity of Assam's various communities. The project is overseen by three high-level committees: the General Advisory Committee (GAC), the Empowered Core Committee (ECC), and the Expert Committee (EC). It is managed by a Project Management Team (PMT), which comprises a project coordinator and director. Books, reports, and other secondary materials are being acquired to enhance the research repository.

This collaboration between SSKS and academic institutions represents a proactive effort to preserve and document Assam’s rich cultural diversity. Involving universities in research and data collection ensures an academically rigorous and inclusive approach to capturing the essence of Assam’s ethnic heritage. The project aims to foster a deeper understanding of Assam’s cultural identity while contributing to the preservation and promotion of its unique traditions.

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