Society for Srimanta Sankaradeva demanded in a press meet on Feb 17 in Guwahati that life and works of Srimanta Sankaradeva should be incorporated in curriculum at both national and state level. Dr Sanjib Kumar Borkakoti, the President of Society for Srimanta Sankaradeva said that life and works of Srimanta Sankaradeva have not been put in curriculum by NCERT properly in spite of repeated appeals for that. Even intervention by HRD minister Arjun Singh in 2006 had resulted in inclusion of only one small paragraph in the history textbook for class XI. Dr Borkakoti said that students must get to learn about the saint right from class VI itself. He also said that the educational institutions set up in Assam in the name of Srimanta Sankaradeva should necessarily teach their students about the saint. He lamented that many people were using the name of Srimanta Sankaradeva to promote own economic interest only.
Eminent author and member of the Society, Imran Hussein opined that the non-inclusion of life and works of Srimanta Sankaradeva in curriculum has hurt the sentiment of people in Assam. Such neglect has contributed to the growth of secessionism in the region. He said that Srimanta Sankaradeva is the unifying factor for Assam and his ideology can save the state from inter-ethnic conflicts. New Delhi should understand the sentiment of people in Assam, he said.
Dr Pradip Mahanta, Secretary of Batadrava Than Parichalana Samiti and member of the Society, gave an account of the rich Sattra culture created by Srimanta Sankaradeva and stressed on the young generation knowing about these heritage. He said that incorporation of life and works of Srimanta Sankaradeva in curriculum is long overdue.
Another member of the Society, Dr Buljit Buragohain said that Society for Srimanta Sankaradeva was formed by a group of people who had gathered first in Facebook. A group named ‘Followers of Srimanta Sarnkaradeva’ had been formed there on Feb 23, 2011 to spread the message of the saint. Society for Srimanta Sankaradeva was registered by a section of that group members in May 2011. The society has already launched three websites to spread the message of Srimanta Sankaradeva, he said.
Eminent artist and Bargeet singer Amal Mahanta made a fervent appeal to the schools and institutions to keep an acceptable portrait of Srimanta Sankaradeva. He also said that all Mahapurushiya organizations should show awareness in this regard. Anjana Tamuli had welcomed every one at the outset.
Add new comment