GUWAHATI, March 3 � The additional dossier for recognition to Majuli, the nerve centre of Assamese Vaishnavite religion and culture as well as a treasure trove of the gleaming gems of ethnic cultures, as a World Heritage Site under the cultural landscape category has already been submitted to the UNESCO. The World Heritage Committee of the UNESCO is likely to discuss the dossier at its next meeting in June.
The dossier has mainly focused on the rich Sattriya and ethnic cultural elements of the island and the need to preserve them, said Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Majuli Cultural Landscape Management Authority Iftiquar Hussain, who is also the Commissioner of Upper Assam Division.
In keeping with the Government of India�s initiative to wrest World Heritage Site status for the river island, the Majuli Cultural Landscape Management Authority (MCLMA) has undertaken initiatives to make the people aware of the cultural treasures preserved by the islanders and the need to uplift the island�s status to that of a World Heritage Site. The Authority has been created as per the provision of the Majuli Cultural Landscape Region Act, 2006.
The MCLMA met on February 29 under the chairmanship of its CEO Iftiquar Hussain at his Jorhat office. It decided to hold a seminar covering all aspects of Majuli island�s heritage in Guwahati in the second week of May next, as part of the promotional activities the MCLMA has envisioned.
The seminar will be addressed by distinguished personalities and experts covering topics of the vision document of the island and the cultural resources of the islanders, which are inalienably linked with the bid of the island to secure the World Heritage Site status.
Following the seminar, a cultural function will also be held in the evening that day showcasing the best elements of Majuli�s Sattriya and ethnic cultures.
The February 29 meeting of the MCLMA was attended by Deputy Commissioner of Jorhat R C Jain, Joint Secretary of Cultural Affairs Department Faizur Hussain, Deputy Director of Cultural Affairs Hiranmoy Bhuyan, Cultural Officer, Majuli Somnath Ojah.
Besides, voluntary organisation Majuli Island Protection and Development Council�s general secretary Bharat Saikia and three other members of the organisation, Executive Engineer of the Brahmaputra Board�s Majuli office and the Executive Engineer of the Water Resources Department�s Majuli office also attended the meeting, said Hussain.
