Satradhikar Harekrishna Mahanta
Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal seen with Satradhikar Harekrishna Mahanta. Image - Northeast Now

The decision of the Assam government to confer the Kalicharan Brahma Award 2018 to Satradhikar Harekrishna Mahanta of the historic Borengajuli Sankardev Satra (Vaishnavite Monastery) located along Indo-Bhutan border near Dimakuchi in Udalguri district, has been hailed by the people of the region.

The decision of the Assam government has been lauded the people of the area cutting across caste, creed, community and religion.

The 95-year-old Satradhikar, Harekrishna Mahanta, a devotee of Srimanta Sankaradeva, has rendered his life for spreading the message of love, tolerance, humanity and brotherhood among various communities.

He was greatly inspired by the life of Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha.

Mahanta has been instrumental in imbibing the core ideology of Srimanta Sankaradeva to serve humanity and understand the core essence of his message that the best way to serve God is to serve the humanity.

He has made successful efforts in integrating different communities including Rabha, Bodo, Koch and Adivasi people of the area and built the Borengajuli Satra way back in 1952.

Satradhikar Mahanta has also established 27 Satras across the state.

He has been spreading the culture and tradition of Vaishnavism and is a known face of Satriya culture.

He is also the recipient of Pitambar Dev Goswami National Award, 2012 and Apurba Singha Award, 2012 and Satrabhusan title conferred by Barpeta Satra.

The local organizations and students’ bodies have hailed the decision of the government.

Paneri legislator Kamali Basumatari; BTC deputy speaker Nerswn Boro; president of the Borengajuli Satra Committee, Sukhram Boro have also expressed their gratitude towards the state government.

It is pertinent here to mention that Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and state BJP president Ranjit Kumar Dass have on many occasions visited to the satra.

Shajid Khan is Northeast Now Correspondent in Udalguri. He can be reached at: [email protected]