Guwahati: In a significant step towards preserving Assam‘s rich ethnic, cultural, and traditional identities, the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Samaj signed MoUs with 11 universities of the state at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra on Thursday.
The agreement aims to conduct a comprehensive cultural mapping of the art and ethnicity of the state.
The MoUs were signed with Gauhati University, Dibrugarh University, Tezpur University, Assam University, Cotton University, Bodoland University, Madhadev University, Assam Down Town University, Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankaradeva Viswavidyalaya, Royal Global University, and Pragjyotispur University. The MoU with the Majuli University of Culture will be signed at a later date.
The project is spearheaded by the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra Society, which is under the aegis of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Assam.
Secretary of Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Samaj, Sudarsan Thakur, signed the MoUs with the representatives of the universities in the presence of Cultural Affairs Minister Bimal Borah during a formal ceremony.
State Minister Bimal Borah said that the ‘Cultural Mapping of Art and Ethnicity of Assam’ project is indeed an innovative and ambitious one as no other state of the nation has reportedly undertaken such an initiative.
He said, “With universities generally conducting academic tasks related to this domain through departments such as Anthropology, Cultural Studies, Folklore Studies, Assamese, and Sociology, and several faculty members independently carrying out research projects on folk culture and related areas, it was decided that their role and expertise would be pivotal towards ensuring success of the project.”
He added that it is essential to undertake a cultural mapping of the state to identify, preserve, and promote the distinct art, wisdom, philosophy, and ethnicity for future generations.
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The universities have been entrusted with the responsibility of collecting secondary data, records and research materials to facilitate the cultural mapping initiative.
