GUWAHATI: The Government of Assam will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today with Visva-Bharati University, West Bengal, to establish a Srimanta Sankardeva Chair. This new academic position will follow the model of similar chairs at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi and Panjab University in Chandigarh, aiming to broaden the research and study of Srimanta Sankardeva and his Bhakti Movement beyond the borders of Assam and India.
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The primary objectives of the Srimanta Sankardeva Chair will include:
1. Promoting scholarly work on the Bhakti Movement in Assam, with a particular focus on Srimanta Sankardeva, his life, teachings, and followers.
2. Examining the relevance of Sankardeva's teachings within the modern Indian context and their impact on contemporary issues.
3. Engaging students and researchers outside Assam to continue exploring the history, literature, culture, and institutions related to the Bhakti Movement.
4. Facilitating doctoral and post-doctoral research on various aspects of the Bhakti Movement, including its history, literature, and cultural significance.
5. Hosting seminars, conferences, and lectures both within West Bengal and internationally, and conducting time-bound research projects related to the Chair’s focus.
