Foundational Analysis of the Satra Institution and its Contemporary Relevance

Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta on Satra, Society, and Sankardeva

In a culturally enriching event, the Srimanta Sankardeva Chair, in collaboration with the Institute of Educational Technology and Vocational Education, Panjab University, Chandigarh, organized a special lecture on April 2, 2025.

The event was planned and executed under the leadership of Prof. Supreet Kaur, Coordinator of the Srimanta Sankardeva Chair at Panjab University, with support from Prof. Yojna Rawat, the former Chair Coordinator and currently Dean of University Instruction at Panjab University.

The distinguished speaker for the occasion was none other than Shri Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, Assam’s multi-faceted son, retired IPS officer, and currently serving as the Chief Information Commissioner of Assam. He is a trustee of the Srimanta Foundation for Culture and Society, Assam.

Foundational Analysis of the Satra Institution and its Contemporary Relevance — Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta

Mahanta, a 1988-batch IPS officer from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre and former Director General of Police (DGP) of Assam, captivated the audience with an insightful talk on “Foundational Analysis of the Satra Institution and its Contemporary Relevance.”

What set this lecture apart was the subject matter and the speaker himself, a rare fusion of administrator, cultural scholar, and social reformer. Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, known in Assam as a man of integrity and vision, drew on his personal and professional experiences to emphasize the contemporary relevance of Sankardev’s teachings.

Born in Sivasagar, Assam, and a scholar with academic roots in Ramjas College and the Delhi School of Social Work, Mahanta has worn many hats with distinction, ranging from law enforcement to cinema, and from administrative service to spiritual preservation.

In his lecture, Mahanta traced the historical trajectory of the Satra institution, originally known as “Than”, established by the 15th-century saint-reformer Srimanta Sankardev. He emphasized how Sankardev’s vision of Bhakti (devotion) was not merely spiritual but a tool of social integration and cultural transformation. Through Satras and Namghars, Sankardev democratized religious practice and developed a shared community space across castes and communities.

Mahanta recalled a moment from his tenure as an IPS officer, when a group of disillusioned Mishing tribal youth took up arms in protest. The reason was not merely political,it was primarily cultural and emotional. These youth felt alienated from ‘Bhaona’, the traditional theatrical performance form closely associated with Satra and Namghar institutions.

Rather than deploying force or taking a conventional law-and-order approach, Mahanta made a courageous and empathetic decision: he went to the youth himself, unarmed, and initiated a dialogue. Guided by the non-violent principles of Srimanta Sankardev, he listened to their grievances and acknowledged their pain. “I didn’t go as a police officer, I went as a fellow devotee of Sankardev, someone who believed in dialogue, inclusion, and peace,” he told the audience.

This approach, rare in law enforcement, defused the rebellion without violence. Mahanta facilitated meetings with Satra authorities, encouraging reforms and community outreach programs that would restore inclusivity to these once liberal spaces of Assamese spiritual life.

Mahanta emphasized that the Satra institution was never meant to be hierarchical or exclusionary. He noted that it was Sankardev’s strong understanding of the arts- music, dance, and dramathat made his message accessible to all, especially marginalized communities.

“Today, many Assamese children as well as youth learn to play instruments, sing devotional songs, and perform Bhaona because of the culturaltradition left behind by Sankardev,” Mahanta remarked. However, he cautioned against institutional rigidity and called for a return to the inclusive ethos that once defined the Satras.

Beyond policing, Mahanta has made meaningful contributions to Assamese arts and history. He directed the Assamese-language short film Yugadrashta: The Visionary, based on the life of Pitambar Deva Goswami,Satradhikar (head priest). Starring Moon Borkotoky and produced by Swapnali Mahanta, the film offers a rich portrayal of Goswami’s inner struggles and social activism.

Set partly in Majuli, the heartland of Assam’s Satra culture, the film begins with Goswami’s return from an EID Majlis in 1956, a symbolic act of interfaith solidarity. Through a series of flashbacks, it reveals his 1914 ordination, his reforms of the celibate Satra order, and his fight against colonial tax laws. Notable is a scene where the British Deputy Commissioner lays down his gun at Goswami’s feet in reverence.

The film also highlights Goswami’s activism for tribal and marginalized communities, including the Mishing, Keot/Kaibarta, and Bodo, and his revolutionary support for women’s education and widow remarriage.

Despite failing health, he is shown opening schools in the Mikir Hills and promoting women’s theatre and dance.Mahanta’s lecture was not just a historical analysis but a powerful call to actionto reclaim Assam’s cultural institutions as spaces of unity, dialogue, and inclusiveness, as envisioned by Srimanta Sankardev.

In his closing remarks, Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta paid heartfelt tribute to Srimanta Sankardev, describing him as not merely a saint or cultural reformer of Assam, but a visionary of Bharatwhose thoughts transcended geography and time.

He emphasized that Sankardev’s synthesis of spiritual wisdom, social reform, and cultural creativity represents a civilizational ideal for India,a model of unity in diversity and compassion in governance. Mahanta urged scholars and citizens alike to revisit Sankardev’s legacy not just as Assamese heritage, but as India’s enduring intellectual and moral resource.

The audience, comprising students, faculty, and cultural enthusiasts, left with renewed respect for the enduring relevance of Sankardev’s teachings and the transformative power of principled leadership.

DIKUMONI HAZARIKA, PhD. Research Scholar (Political Science), Panjab University

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