Cry to revive xatras as bedrock of Assamese society

Rousing conclusion to centery celebration of Axom Xatra Mahaxabha

From a Correspondent

JORHAT, Oct 11: The two-day function of the centery celebration of the Axom Xatra Mahaxabha came to an end on Sunday at the Boarding field in Sivasagar. The programme concluded after an hour-long discussion on the role of Xatradhikars in the context to the present intellectual, cultural and spiritual milieu of Assam.

The chief speakers in the discussion were Sankardev Award recipient rayan Goswami, Xatradhikar of New Kamalabari Xatra in Majuli and former president of Axom Mahaxabha, Bhodro Krish Goswami, former president of Axom Xatra Mahaxabha and Dr Pradip Jyoti Mahanta, Dean, Mabiki Samaj Vigyan Vidyapith, Tezpur Central University, Noni Gopal Devo Goswami, Xatradhikar Dakhinpaat Xatra and Khagendra th Bhuyan, retired teacher of Sivasagar Government School.

Addressing the assembled Xatradhikars and a sea of followers of the Xatra Mahaxabha, rayan Goswami said, “The present Assamese society is degenerating and time has come for the xatras to play an important role in reviving the origil Assamese society socially, spiritually and intellectually. The Assamese society has lost interest in the xatras and today every family wants to send their children to metropolitan cities outside Assam. The parents live aloof in a constrained society with their pet dogs. Teegers are no longer attracted towards the xatras. This is the present trend. The Assamese population is decreasing and I vehemently oppose the Central Government’s decision to impose restrictions upon family growth which has been so dearly accepted by the Assamese society without any opposition. Today every Assamese family has only two children.”

rayan Goswami further said, “Moreover, it’s time for the Xatradhikars to remain alert in the wake of the onslaught by foreigners and their religion including those of the followers of Siddhi Sai Baba, Iskcon, Vivekanda Kendriya and Prajapati Brahma Kumari. Instead of wasting time by organizing such functions, one needs to focus on how to propagate the religious teachings/preachings of the xatras among the people. As such, the Assamese language is on the verge of climbing down to the second position in the State in view of recent political developments which will now perhaps facilitate the Bangla language to become the number one language. Only 40 per cent out of the 3 crore 12 lakh Assamese people are associated with the xatras and in passing on the preachings of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev and Madhavdev. I would like to appeal to the people to be a part of the xatras. Xatras are not only for the Mahantas and Gohains. Today more than 47,000 bighas of land belonging to 47 of the 1,000 xatras of Assam are under illegal occupation of foreign settlers and the Assamese society must understand that by neglecting xatras, the society cannot retain its Assamese identity for long.”

In his sppech, Dr. Pradip Jyoti Mahanta said, “Xatras have a long-standing history. Xatra is a society. With the aim to set up an Assamese society, Srimanta Sankardev propagated the idea of xatras. Emphasis should be laid on creation of a resurgent Assamese society based on a conceptual framework. Society without xatras cannot survive for long and is bound to crumble. There is no other organization like the xatra anywhere in the world with so many unique features. Today, the biggest problem faced by the xatras is migration in search of earning a livelihood and attaining economic self-sufficiency, while others complain of interl squabbles within the xatras. In all this, we have moved far away from the concept of federalism.”

Later Khagendra th Bhuyan discussed about “lost moral values” of the present Assamese society and cited examples of how in ancient times, pupils had a sense of respect towards their teachers and obeyed every word, thus imbibing the idea of self-respect. He said, “It’s time for introspection as to what are the circumstances that have led us to discuss today’s topic on the role of the Xatradhikars in context of the present intellectual, cultural and spiritual society of Assam? Society has been crippled. Degradation of Assamese society is mainly because of the diminishing social fabric and the ‘smart’ educatiol system. India as a country was always known for sacrifice and not as a greedy tion. But today we want more and have become desperate. And this trend is being set up by all those people who have led both the country and the society astray.”

Noni Gopal Devo Goswami said, “The Xatra culture is the main culture of Assam and is an indispensable and integral part of Assam and its history.”