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Guwahati: Vaishnavite guru Narayan Chandra Goswami dies

JORHAT: Narayan Chandra Goswami , a leading Sanskit scholar and the satradhikar (head priest) of Natun Kamalabari Satra (Vaishnaviate monastery), passed away at a private hospital in Guwahati on Tuesday. He was 80.

Goswami was renowned for his scholarly work on Brajavali language and Neo-Vaishnavite religion and Satriya culture.



Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal expressed his condolences and offered floral tributes to Goswami and said, “The demise of Narayan Chandra Goswami, satradhikar of Majuli’s Sri Sri Natun Kamalabari satra, is an immense loss to the cultural and spiritual sphere of Assam.”

Sonowal added, “We have deeply saddened for the death of satradhikar prabhu. He was a venerated saint among the people of Assam. He has made a vast contribution to the satriya culture. His works will be remembered forever.”

Goswami was reportedly suffering from liver cirrhosis for a long time and was admitted to a Guwahati hospital on December 5, 2019, after which he was shifted to Gangaram Hospital, New Delhi, with the support of the state government on December 17. He was discharged later that month but his condition continued to deteriorate.

Besides the prestigious Sankardeva award in 2004, Goswami was conferred with the Sahitya Academy award, Sankardeva Shilpa Sadhana Bota, Chandrakanta Hiraprabha Bota, Makhan Prasad Duwarah Bota, Jibon Jura Sadhana Bota, Guru Sankar-Madhab Bota, Krishnandan Brahmachari Bota, Satra Ratna and Sanskriti Bhushan award. He was also conferred with honorary DLit by Dibrugarh University in 2010. He was the visiting professor at Dibrugarh University and Srimanta Sankardeva University.

Goswami, who became the head priest of Natun Kamalabari satra in 1972, was working on the development of Majuli cultural landscape and for the protection of Majuli island and its heritage. He participated in various socio-religious-cultural and educational conferences in India and abroad. Srimanta Sankardeva’s ‘Ram Bijoy’ nat (drama) was performed in Indonesia under his leadership.

Besides neo-Vaishnavite traditions and Sattriya culture, Goswami was known for his work on Brajawali and Sanskrit languages. He wrote 20 books and nine dramas.

Assam governor Jagdish Mukhi in a statement said, “Dr Narayan Chandra Goswami, a spiritual and intellectual leader and also an erudite Vaishnavite scholar, dedicated his life for the promotion of satra culture across the country”.

Chief minister’s Media Advisor Hrishikesh Goswami said, “A glittering name in the socio-cultural-spiritual field of the state, his death would create a void.” He also conveyed his empathy to the bereaved family and prayed to the Almighty for eternal peace of the departed soul.”

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