Majuli to get 'World heritage site' status Guwahati, Nov 27

The world's largest river island, Majuli, situated in Upper Assam is all set to get the status of World heritage site. A group of experts from UNESCO is presently camping in the river island to evaluate this River Island's claim to the heritage site.
The largest river island, which is the sheet anchor of the Vashnavite culture in Assam, is facing massive erosion due to the sudden change in the course of the river Brahmaputra.

The Indian government earlier this year had proposed to UNESCO to accord international recognition to the island of Majuli, which is, situated 350 km east of Assam's main city of Guwahati. Accepting the government invitation, Jagat Weerasinghe, an archaeologist from Sri Lanka has led a team of UNESCO experts to the river island. Officials from the archaeological survey of India (ASI) have also accompanied the UNESCO team. Based on Weersinghe's
report, Majuli, the seat of Vaisnavite culture and religion, may be accorded World Heritage site status. The largest inhabited river island of the world is seeking inclusion into the list on the twin basis of being an ecological site as well as a seat of tradition and culture.

Majuli with a population of about 150,000 people once covered a prosperous 1,500 square km. Today, its very existence is in danger as the island has reduced to half its original size and is prone to extensive flood and erosion. The threat to Majuli's existence began in 1950 after a severe earthquake shifted the riverbed and caused massive silting that in turn led to heavy river erosion, especially during the rainy season. Sociologists have stressed on the preservation of this unique art
form and the people of the island whose culture and dance forms are untouched by modernism.

Date: Nov 27, 2005