The Majuli University of Culture, Majuli, has been established by the Government of Assam vide its Act XXXVII, 2017, as a very specific institution of Higher Education and learning in the country to impart education in culture and other aspects related to the pursuit of human activities and civilization in this part of India. It is expected that the University will take up the human ecology and environment of this part of India, its colourful cultures, rich folklore, language, and the intellectual heritage to understand them academically and cultivate them for the progress of our society. A social and geographical entity by its own right with rich cultural heritage derived from the tradition inherited from Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankaradeva and his disciple Mahapurusha Madhavadeva (the duo being popularly called ‘mani-kancana’) in the 16th century, interwoven with the rich floral fabrics of the pristine cultures of the Misings, Deuris and Kacharis. Majuli, the world’s largest river-made island with enormous geographical and topographical specificity, is a rightful choice for the foundation of the cultural University. The establishment of the University on the bank of the Luit river (Lauhitya of the early Sanskrit literature), the old channel of the Brahmaputra, flowing on the north of the island encompassing varied groups of population with their colourful cultural life, presupposes a unique site by itself.
The island society also boasts of its traditional Vaishnava institutions called Satra of which the grand ones with celibate inmates, such as the Auniati, Dakhinpat, Garamur, Kamalabari and others (like Bengenaati, Chamaguri, Bhogpur etc.) still govern the moral and spiritual life of Assam to a large degree. Preservatories of extensive tangible and intangible cultural resources these Satras along with the island’s varied topographical, demographical and natural landscape areas, have made the island district a natural museum for mankind. Majuli also boasts of its ethnic population complex. With about 46 per cent of tribal population coming from such tribes as the Mising, Deuri and (Sonowal) Kachari, the island presents a landscape of colourful ethnic culture representing the ethos of the greater ethno-cultural scenario of Northeast India. Majuli therefore provides, in the most meaningful way, with a site best suited for the foundation of a cultural University justifiably attracting students and scholars from across the world. As a matter of fact, the University shall remain responsible for their discovery and rediscovery; understanding and interpretation; cultivation, collection and preservation; and above all, in situating them in the larger perspective of Indian culture and civilization. It is designed to enrich the nation’s intellectual tradition and make us better fitted to face the challenges of the contemporary world. We hope, all irrespective of their religious affinities, ethnic and linguistic diversities, social distinctions, ages or territories will accord support for the healthy growth of the University.
We envision a higher educational institution engaged in the studies and cultivation of culture in its larger perspective, and create a set of useful and shining citizen who will be able to lead our society, with best of their abilities, in the 21st century world of multidimensional requirements. We hope the Majuli University of Culture will rediscover the ‘Luitar Pār’ and resituate the divine island to look at it, once more, this time from a new perspective, as a land of attraction for pursuit of knowledge.
The University will be a holistic, multi and inter disciplinary higher educational hub of studies and research in culture, cultural preservation, growth and progress with quality and optimal learning environments and support, effective governance and other infrastructure facilities as defined in the National Education Policy 2020, Government of India.
We thank all those in whose dream the seed of the University germinated and in whose care we expect it to grow.
