Ancient Indian treasure to arrive from UK at new Assam museum

National National

Posted by AI on 2025-08-30 13:56:13 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-30 21:41:07

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Assam is set to showcase theVrindavani Vastra, a 16th-century silk textile by local artist Srimanta Sankardeva, in a new museum, due to open in 2027. This requires a new facility to be built with the support of JSW Group. The Vrindavani Vastra is a highly significant artwork, as it depicts the religious poet Sankardeva in the company of female celestial beings, which challenges the orthodox Hindu societal norms of its time.

Only men were allowed to paint images of the gods, particularly in Assam. However, Sankardeva challenged this notion by portraying the gods as feminine, and painting them alongside the divine being himself. This contravened the strict Hindu caste system, in place at the time. Consequently, Sankardeva is regarded as a revolutionary figure, challenging the societal norms of the day.

The British Museum in London has agreed to loan the ancient textile to India, whereby it will be housed in the new museum, with the assistance of the Indian government and the JSW Group. It is hoped that this artifact will encourage a boost in tourism in the region, upon its anticipated completion in 2027.

Finishing remarks:

The Vrindavani Vastra is evidence of Sankardeva's revolutionary spirit, challenging the strict societal norms of Hindu India in the 16th century. Due to his efforts, he enabled a progressive shift in attitudes, thereby enabling women to take a more prominent role in Indian society. This historic textile reflects a pivotal moment in Indian history, and will soon be available to view at the new museum in Assam, loaned from the British Museum.

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