GAURIPUR, Sept 3 - Haripur-Madhupur Satra, situated besides the NH-31 at a distance of 8 km from the Assam-North Bengal border and 50 km away from Gauripur and established by Mahapurush Shri Shri Madhabdev and Harihar in the early 15th century AD is presently under forceful encroachment posing a threat to its very existence. Other infrastructural problems being faced by the Satra have added to the threat.
The Satra is located at Haripur in the Tufanganj subdivision of the district of Cooch Behar and during the time of its establishment, King Naranarayana donated three bighas of land. The land was notified as Brahmottara land. There are 20 families of bhakats, who have been rendering help to run the Satra and a bhakat is looking after the daily affairs of the Satra.
A few years back, the government of Assam sanctioned Rs 11 lakh for the construction of the main kirtanghar. The construction of the same is yet to be completed and there is no manikut, which is one of the prime requirements of a Satra.
There is no boundary wall either as a result of which, some local people have occupied one-third of the area of the Satra and they are always looking for opportunities to occupy the vacant areas of the Satra, as reported by one of the bhakats.
The bhakat told this correspondent that some bhakats of Sualkuchi had purchased 13 kathas of land for the Satra, when they had gone on a visit to the Madhupur Satra, but the land has not yet been handed over to it. The �Guru Griha� was built by the well-wishers but the Satra lacks a �Bhakat Griha� as also a guest house.
Lack of proper drinking water has caused concern not only to the bhakats but also to the visitors. The pucca well constructed by King Naranarayana is lying abandoned. Though there is a dwelling house for the bhakats, but that too lacks proper amenities. Some people of the area are trying to open shops besides the Satra but their attempts have been foiled.
Since its inception, the government of Assam has not sanctioned any grant-in-aid to the Satra which is running with the help rendered by the bhakats, but they too are very poor. Jitendra Nath Prodhani is the Satradhikar of the Satra but due to his busy schedule, has not been able to visit the Satra regularly.
The bhakats of the Satra have demanded its renovation and an eviction drive by the local authorities. They have also demanded that the construction of the boundary wall be taken up immediately so that the Satra can survive and save the Vaishnavite culture and tradition in the days to come.
