Five Assamese Sanchipat Manuscripts at Rashtrapati Bhavan reflect national recognition of state’s heritage: Governor Acharya

By Dalim Phukan

Guwahati, Jan. 30: Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya on Thursday said the preservation of five rare Assamese Sanchipat manuscripts at Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Granth Kutir represents national recognition of Assam’s rich cultural and intellectual heritage.

The Governor was speaking after inaugurating a two-day workshop on “Manuscripts of Assam” at the Phanidhar Datta Seminar Hall of Gauhati University. The workshop has been organised under the Governor Assam Bhasha Protsahan Yojana, 2025, an initiative of Lok Bhavan, Assam, conceptualised to promote and preserve the State’s linguistic and literary traditions.

Describing manuscripts as timeless carriers of knowledge and cultural legacy, Governor Acharya quoted the ancient Sanskrit maxim “Naasti vidya samam chakshuh” (there is no vision equal to knowledge), noting that manuscripts preserve the wisdom of sages, saints, and societies across generations.

Highlighting Assam’s long tradition of illustrated manuscripts from ancient Kamarupa through the Ahom period, he said texts in Sanskrit, Old Assamese, and Tai-Ahom reflect the State’s multilingual and multicultural ethos. Referring to the works of Srimanta Sankardeva and Sri Madhavdeva, the Governor said these manuscripts convey enduring values of wisdom, social harmony, compassion, and human dignity. He also noted that Ahom-era historical manuscripts represent a unique and systematic tradition of historiography.

Stressing the importance of preservation in the digital age, Governor Acharya said Lok Bhavan’s language promotion initiative aims to strengthen linguistic harmony and cultural dialogue. He referred to the recently published translated compilation of Assamese and Tamil patriotic poems, adding that the initiative has now expanded to the preservation and dissemination of India’s ancient knowledge traditions through collaboration with Gauhati University.

Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that “India’s heritage is a bridge to the future”, the Governor referred to the Gyan Bharatam Mission, under which over 5.2 million manuscripts have been documented nationwide, with Assam making a significant contribution.

He lauded the efforts of institutions such as the Assam State Archives, Kamarupa Anusandhan Samiti, Gauhati University, Cotton University, Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra, and Vaishnavite Sattras in manuscript preservation, and called upon scholars, academic institutions, and civil society to actively participate in safeguarding this heritage.

Expressing hope that the workshop would serve as a platform for technical training, cultural revival, and future collaboration, Governor Acharya said such efforts would meaningfully contribute to reconnecting contemporary society with India’s civilisational past.

The inaugural session was attended by Commissioner and Secretary to the Governor S.B. Meenakshi Sundaram; Advisor to the Governor Dr Harbansh Dixit; Officer on Special Duty Prof Bechan Lal; Gauhati University Vice-Chancellor Prof Nani Gopal Mahanta; Director of Historical and Archaeological Studies Dr Sanait Gogoi; Director of Archaeology, Assam, Dr Deepi Rekha Kauli; along with faculty members, research scholars, and other dignitaries.