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In the month of may this year high officials from India went to take part in the Yakushima summit of the Kagoshima International Conference on World Natural Heritage and Majuli came up for discussion. The Union Ministry of India has also sanctioned approximately (US $5.5 crores) for the protection of Majuli. A plea has been sent to the UNESCO for the declaration of Majuli to be a world natural site and above it a world heritage site. Several NGOs have pooled in their resources for the protection of Majuli. Indian Government organizations including the archeological survey of India have inspected this place and are trying to save the island and bring it in focus to the world communities.
But what and where is Majuli and what is all the hype about? All this is difficult to understand for someone who is uninitiated to India and in particular the northeastern part of it. Precisely speaking it is located in the latitude of 260 45’ N - 270 12’ N and longitude of 930 39’ E - 940 35’ E. In fact, Majuli is a small island located in the Jorhat district of Assam, one of the largest states in the eastern most part of the country. But this small island is by no means irrelevant. It is the biggest river island in the world, located in the upper reaches of river Brahmputra with mean ht of 84.5 ms above msl. The reason why Majuli is gaining so much leverage is because it has become a multifaceted hotbed, socially, physically, politically, and archeologically. All these factors are in fact integrated with each other.
Majuli has been the cultural capital of Assam for the past five hundred years. It has also been the cradle of Assamese civilization. Although the exact origin of Majuli may be a point of contention, written records are found of the visit of Shankardeva, a social reformer, during the 16th century. He promulgated a form of Hinduism that was also called vaishnavism. He established monasteries or hermitages that were called satras. These satras became the hub of culture, art, religion and lifestyle. Even today these satras preserve antiques like weapons, utensils, jewelry and other articles of cultural importance. The tribal folk culture of Majuli also deserves preservation. These tribal are the mishing tribes from the state of Arunachal and who migrated here many centuries ago. Apart from them the inhabitants are also a tribe known as Deori. The need for preservation arises because these people have an ethnic culture and dance forms untouched by modernism. The handloom work of these tribes is famous all over the World. Pottery is made in Majuli from beaten clay and burnt in driftwood-fired kilns just like the way it was done in the Harrapan Civilizations.
Since the atmosphere is washed ever so often by the rains and also perhaps because there are not any industries or factories, it is a totally pollution free atmosphere. A large number of migratory birds visit this island. The beauty of the winter with its entire exotic flora has to be seen to be believed. Since vaishnavists believe in the existence of Lord Krishna extensive festivities take place during the months of October - November and several tourists visit this place. Even now Majuli is considered a tourist spot and it is included in the agenda of several tour programs. But this beautiful place is seriously lacking in tourism infrastructure. However more important than the development of infrastructure is the preservation of this island for all its natural beauty and ethnic culture.
The need of preservation also arises because the mighty Brahmputra washes off, during the rainy season huge parts of this island. Already since 1991,35 villages have been washed away. Studies show that 15-20 years from now Majuli may be totally submerged in water. For the inhabitants the only mode of communication with the outside world is a ferry that operates twice a day. In fact for most part of the year the people struggle for survival because the flood ravages them every year robbing them of the basic requirements of life. Struggle for survival continues unabated.
Another major problem plaguing this island was the grass-root hold of extremism here. AVARD-NE was one of the NGOs working in this place documenting the social, economic, cultural and environmental situation. Sanjay Ghose was a social activist associated with this organization and he had made pioneering efforts to root out extremism that had formed vice-like grip in this island. However he was brutally murdered at the hands of misguided youths heading the extremism movement. His murder saw a wide uproar amongst the people of Assam. Today Majuli is back in mainstream of the nation- all thanks to Sanjay Ghost.
Today, the all-pervading modernism has found footing in this island as well. Educational institutions exist, and so do medical and power infrastructure. Slowly the people are moving from making mud and bamboo houses to the modern materials. Inability to resist this yearly onslaught and the hope of a better life has already forced many people to leave this island. Already efforts are on to make this island more inhabitable, developed and tourist friendly. One hope that these efforts pay off, or the very existence of this island may well be history.
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