Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday criticised what he described as a distortion of Assam’s historical narrative while addressing the State BJP Executive Meeting. Stressing the importance of historical accuracy, the Chief Minister asserted that Assam’s cultural and spiritual foundation has often been misrepresented in contemporary political discourse.
He explained that Srimanta Sankardev, born in the 15th century, was a towering saint-scholar, social reformer, and the founder of Ekasarana Dharma, a neo-Vaishnavite movement focused on devotion to Lord Krishna and the promotion of social equality. Sankardev’s teachings, literature, and cultural contributions played a central role in shaping Assam’s identity.
In contrast, Azan Fakir, originally known as Shah Miran, arrived in Assam from Baghdad in the 17th century, nearly two centuries after Sankardev. Azan Fakir propagated Islam in the region through Zikirs and Zaris, which were influenced by Sankardev’s Borgeet. His work is widely recognised for fostering harmony and tolerance among communities.
The Chief Minister pointed out that while the phrase Sankar-Azaan is frequently used in political narratives to symbolise Hindu-Muslim coexistence, it does not reflect the historical timeline. He emphasised that the historically accurate association is Sankar-Madhav, referring to Srimanta Sankardev and his chief disciple Shri Shri Madhavdev, who together strengthened and carried forward the Ekasarana tradition.
