Assam’s ancient Sanchi-Pat manuscripts go digital at Historic Madhupur Dham Satra
A technical team has begun digitising rare Sanchi-pat manuscripts at Shri Shri Madhupur Dham Satra after talks with Assam-based stakeholders. The exercise is being presented as a long-awaited preservation step and as proof the manuscripts have not been destroyed.
- Aug 01, 2026,
- Updated Aug 01, 2026, 9:54 PM IST
- Leaders met on 8 July to plan long-term manuscript preservation
- The effort fulfils late Satradhikar Lakshikanta Mahanta Prabhu’s preservation appeal
- Deka Satradhikar Madhav Deva Mahanta Prabhu assured full cooperation during talks
A major digitisation initiative has begun to preserve the rare and ancient Sanchi-pat (bark) manuscripts housed at the historic Shri Shri Madhupur Dham Satra in Cooch Behar, West Bengal, a revered Vaishnavite institution with deep cultural and historical ties to Assam.
The project follows discussions held on July 8, when a delegation comprising AASU advisor Dr. Samujjal Bhattacharjee, AASU president Utpal Sarma, general secretary Samiran Phukan, Assam Jatiya Bidyalay Educational Trust secretary Dr. Narayan Sarma and Nanda Talukdar Foundation secretary Mrinal Talukdar visited the Satra to formulate a long-term preservation strategy.
According to the Satra authorities, the initiative fulfils the long-cherished wish of the late Satradhikar, Shri Shri Lakshikanta Mahanta Prabhu, who had repeatedly appealed to the Assam government to adopt scientific methods for preserving the invaluable manuscripts.
As the Satradhikar is currently undergoing medical treatment, the visiting delegation held detailed discussions with the Deka Satradhikar, Shri Shri Madhav Deva Mahanta Prabhu, who assured full cooperation for the preservation exercise.
On August 1, a technical team led by Mrinal Talukdar arrived at the Satra with specialised digitisation equipment and formally began scanning and digitally archiving the manuscripts under the supervision of the Deka Satradhikar. The digitisation process is expected to be completed by August 2.
The Satra management also acknowledged the contribution of Jiten Dolakasharia, a devotee of the Satra and recipient of its Ashis Nirmali Award, for assisting in coordinating the initiative.
The authorities further clarified that the successful inspection and digitisation of the manuscripts disproves claims made in a newspaper report published on April 23 alleging that the ancient manuscripts had been completely destroyed.
Appealing to the public and media, the Satra management urged people to refrain from circulating unverified reports that could undermine the reputation and historical significance of Madhupur Dham Satra, describing it as a priceless symbol of Assam's cultural and spiritual heritage.
