*Tezpur June 7th, 2016: * The Department of Cultural Studies, *Tezpur University* and *Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters *organized an illustrated talk on *‘Vrindavani Vastra’* by *Thomas Richard Blurton, Head, South Asian Section, Department of Asia, British Museum *on 7th June 2016
Mr. Thomas Richard Blurton, delivered an illustrated talk on the much fabled Vrinavani Vastra in an event . The event began with the address of welcome by the Head, Department of Cultural Studies Prof Debarshi Prasad Nath followed by a Borgeet recital by the students of the university. After the felicitation of the guests and other dignitaries, Dr Parasmoni Dutta, Assistant Professor in the department introduced Blurton to the audience. Dr Dutta spoke about Blurton’s various responsibilities as the Head of the South and Southeast Asia division of the Museum and his immense contribution to the field of curatorial science, particularly relating to documentation and interpretation of contemporary cultural practices from Eastern and Northeastern India. In his lecture, Blurton spoke about the history of the Vrindavani Vastra, the unique tapestry which occupies a special place in the cultural heritage of Assam. First woven between 1567 and 1569 by the skilled hands of the weavers of Assam, it was taken to Bhutan and then later to Tibet, from where European merchants carried it to Europe. He observed that a Vrindavani Vastra piece was found by Perceval Landon during the Young Husband Expedition sent from British India to Lhasa in 1903-1904. Landon, a friend of Rudyard Kipling, was the correspondent from The Times (London) on the expedition, and he gave the textile to the British Museum in 1905. The Vastra is also preserved in the Musee Guimet in Paris. At over nine metres long, this Assamese textile is the largest of its type to survive. In a lively presentation, Blurton showed the audience visuals of the vastra and elaborated on the unique design of the tapestry, woven by a technique which is now extinct. The Vrindavani Vastra depicted scenes from the Bhagavata Purana and the Mahabharat, mainly of the childhood days of Lord Krishna. The Krishna scenes on the textile are from the 10th-century text the Bhagavata Purana, and are elaborated in the dramas of Shankardeva. The Vastra consisted of 12 pieces of cloth with intricately decorated motifs depicting the various Vishnu incarnations. A verse from the Purana is also woven into the textile. In his presentation, Blurton not just presented the visuals of the ancient vastra but also explained the meaning of the various motifs embedded in it. He informed that the 12 different strips of cloths were assembled into one tapestry after being transported to Tibet. He even asked the audience to help him in deconstructing some of the motifs which he found difficult to interpret. Blurton’s lecture was followed by an interaction session facilitated by the President of Tezpur Sahitya Sabha, Mr. Hemanta Baruah. The evening concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by Coordinator of Friends of Assam and the Seven Sisters, Rini Kakati. Kakati, called upon the people of Assam and the government to make provisions to bring back the Vastra to the land of its origin. A host of dignitaries, including the Deputy Commissioner, Sonitpur, Laya Madduri graced the occasion as guests. Let us hope that this talk will be the beginning of the future negotiation process and evaluating various options open to us. Basically we need to evaluate where the glory of Assam will be best preserved. In any case, FASS would look forward to participate in all future talks with the British Museum and the Government of Assam as the mediator.- *Friends of Assam & Seven SistersHouston, Texas*
