Guwahati: In a notable effort to preserve Assam’s literary and cultural legacy, the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra Society has handed over a set of rare ‘sanchipat’ manuscripts to the Rashtrapati Bhavan library in New Delhi.
At a formal handover ceremony, Kalakshetra Secretary Sudarshan Thakur presented the manuscripts to Dipti Umashankar, Secretary to the President of India.
The Guwahati-based cultural institution collaborated with several ‘Satras’—Vaishnavite monasteries across Assam—to source the manuscripts.
The collection includes revered texts such as Kirtan Ghosha and Adi Dasham, both composed by the 15th-century saint and reformer Srimanta Sankardeva.
Also part of the donation are Nam Ghoxa and Bhakti Ratnavali, attributed to his disciple Madhavdeva.
These works, considered pillars of Assamese devotional literature, form the backbone of the Ekasarana Dharma tradition.
One of the highlights of the donation is a manuscript of Geet Govinda, the iconic Sanskrit composition by Jayadeva, translated into Assamese by Kabiraj Chakravarti during the reign of Swargadeo Rudra Singha in the Ahom era.
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The text reflects the deep syncretism of Assamese devotional traditions with pan-Indian Bhakti literature.
The manuscripts, inscribed on ‘sanchipat’—a traditional bark-based writing material—are known for their durability and artistic calligraphy, often embellished with ornate illustrations.
Speaking on the occasion, Thakur expressed hope that the inclusion of these texts in the Rashtrapati Bhavan library would draw wider attention to Assam’s literary heritage and contribute to the preservation of its classical language and scriptures.
