MAJULI, Feb 14 ? Silhoutted against a massive fabric painting of Garunda, the Pitambardeva Kshetra at Daria Dubi Paar reverberated to the deafening beat of khol, dhol and cymbals, as exponents of the Satriya culture and tribal artistes like regaled an audience at the inaugural function of the two-day second Majuli Festival which got off to a colourful start here today.
Taking a leaf out of the Dutch experience during a subsequent discussion on, ?Geographical and cultural protection of Majuli? ? a worthy son of the river island Brahmaputra and Cambridge University mathematician Dr Khargeswar Bez wondered why abundant locally available natural resources could not be thoughtfully utilised for protecting the river island?s physical boundaries. ?A masterplan needs to be carefully worked out with the help of experts in the field?, he said, ?and a longterm anti-erosion scheme-formulated for implementation?.
Adding, he mentioned, ?if the Dutch in Holland, can import boulders from far-off Indonesia to erect an embankment and fortify their nation which is several metres below sea level, why can?t we be prudent enough to borrow the idea?, he questioned, ?to protect Majuli from being totally eroded by the swirling waters of the mighty Red River?.
Continuing, he said, ?provided such a plan is even taken up by mobilising locally available resources, it will put the will power, imagination and perseverance of the Assamese to test. Amsterdam, the capital of Holland, is still sinking?, he added, ?but the innovative genius, engineering skill and tenacity of the Dutch have helped them put such a mind-boggling setback aside and prosper economically?, he informed.
Earlier the State?s Chief Secretary Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa underlined the importance of exposure, and taking Majuli?s rich spiritual and cultural heritage beyond the shores of the country so that international attention could be drawn favourably towards the island?s physical plight. For the record, the geographical terrain of the world?s largest human-inhabited river island, which has been a hub of Vaishnavite culture since the 16th century Saint reformer Srimanta Sankardeva chose it to sow the seeds of the Bhakti cult, has incidentally shrunk from 2,82,165 acres in 1853 to roughly 886 square km as at present due to unabated land erosion perpetuated by the Brahmaputra, the only male river according to Hindu cosmology.
On the contrary, the pressure on land has increased tremendously, with the population increasing from 35,000 in 1901 to 1,35,378 as per the 1991 census report. Sri Rajkhowa also hinted at banking on internal resources for development of Majuli, and not depending solely on outside help to save the river island. ?Till such time the Rs 90 crore anti-erosion master plan is okayed by the Centre, eco and culture tourism can be moderately promoted through local participation?, he felt.
Meanwhile, the second phase of the festival will be held from April 15 to 18 next at Delhi Haat in the national capital, while promotional campaigns have also been planned abroad, according to Majuli Festival Committee chairman Rajiv Bora to highlight the unique cultural mosaic of the river islanders.