Guwahati, 07 September (HS): Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and JSW Foundation chairperson Sangita Jindal have initiated talks for setting up a world-class museum in Guwahati to showcase the 16th-century textile masterpiece, Vrindavani Vastra.

The rare silk creation, woven under the guidance of Vaishnav saint Srimanta Sankardeva, is currently preserved in the British Museum, London. It will be brought to Assam in 2027 on an 18-month loan for public display.

Calling it “a historic step for Assam’s cultural heritage”, Sarma said the museum would be built to international standards, meeting the specifications set by the British Museum. “The Vrindavani Vastra, a priceless treasure created during the time of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva, will arrive in Assam on loan in 2027,” he stated.

The JSW Group, as part of its CSR initiative, will construct the museum. According to Sarma, the design will reflect global benchmarks and honour the textile’s legacy.

Earlier, on August 30, the chief minister had announced that the British Museum agreed to loan the textile, provided Assam built a state-of-the-art facility for its exhibition.

Besides the physical loan, a digital replica of the Vastra will be prepared by the British Museum. This high-quality representation will be displayed in February 2026 at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra and made available online for global viewers.

The Vrindavani Vastra, commissioned by Koch king Nara Narayan, depicts scenes from Lord Krishna’s life and contains verses composed by Sankardeva. The textile, which originally comprised 15 separate silk drapes, was later stitched into a nine-and-a-half metre-long masterpiece.

Acquired from Tibet in 1904, it reflects the richness of Assamese weaving and artistic traditions, standing as a cultural bridge between Assam, Tibet and Europe.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash