GUWAHATI, Sept 8 - The Mumbai Assam Sahitya Sabha organised a webinar on �Mahapurush Srimanta Sankaradeva�s ideals and contributions � a study�, recently. This was stated i a press release.
The invited guests were renowned speaker and critically acclaimed writer Mayur Bora and Ismail Hussain,well-known educationist and renowned researcher of Srimanta Sankaradeva�s vast creations of literature and culture, who was however unable to attend the programme.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by the president of Mumbai Assam Sahitya Sabha, Suraiya Jahan followed by a �sloka� recital by life member Devabrata Chakraborty and �borgeet� by acclaimed and well known singer Keshab Baruah.
Speaker Mayur Bora enlightened the online audience with many interesting unknown facts about the life of our Sankaradeva. He said that the life of Assamese people during that period, more than 500 years ago, living following the ideals and principles of the Gurujona�s teaching and preaching was termed as �Ramrajya� by our Father of the Nation Gandhiji during his visit to Assam.
Bora said that in our �naamghar� the person entrusted with the work of distribution of prasad to the attending people, always covers his mouth with his gamosa, indicating his sense of hygiene, embibed from the Gurujona�s teachings which can be compared to the present time compulsory use of face masks for safe and hygienic living. Bora said that the way of destressing in those days, as taught by the Gurujona, was to assemble at naamghars and practice naam prasanga.
Mayur Bora�s said that his research on the preaching of Gurujona established that he preached as well as tried to abolish slavery/ bonded labour from the Assamese society. While comparing this point with America�s 3rd President Thomas Jefferson, who too was known as a pioneer against slavery from society, was not actually practising it in his own household, whereas the Gurujona followed what he preached.
Bora said that the Gurujona�s respect for women, be it his wife or women working in his household was remarkable. He explained that though Gurujona could not abolish the caste system prevailing in the society, but his contributions in trying to eradicate narrow-mindedness from society and to show respect for other religions was highly regarded in the prevailing society.
During the more than one hourlong discourse on the subject, Mayur Bora emphasised on the contributions of Sahityarathi Lakshmi Nath Bezborua, Jyotiprasad Agarwalla, Bishnu Prasad Rabha, Dr Bhupen Hazarika towards the promotion of the Gurujona�s wide range of cultural, social, literary creations for the uplift of the Assamese society.
Bora�s speech was followed by a question and answer session with the online viewers. This programme was moderated by Devabrata Chakraborty and Rimjhim Mahanta. Mumbai Assam Sahitya Sabha�s general secretary Deepankar Borgohain coordinated the entire programme and offered the vote of thanks to the speaker and the audience who joined online as well as to the entire team of Mumbai Assam Sahitya Sabha.
