Majuli erosion crisis: Why it seeks world heritage status ahead of Assam polls

As Assembly elections approach, the people of Majuli, the largest inhabited river island in the world and the cultural centre of Assam's neo-Vaishnavite tradition, have redoubled their long-standing call for the island to be recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Majuli, which is located in the Brahmaputra, is well known for its historic Satras, which are Vaishnavite monasteries established by the saint-scholar Srimanta Sankardev in the 15th and 16th centuries. Sankardev's teachings influenced Assam's spiritual and cultural identity.

Rituparna Saharma, President, Pitamber Dev Yuva Kalyan Sangh, says, "From our ancestors as well as from us, this has been our demand – that World Heritage Site status should be granted to Majuli as soon as possible. The government is also working towards it, but it needs more effort. We want Majuli to receive the Heritage Site status at the earliest so that our cultural heritage remains protected and the landscape issues that we face are also addressed...there is the problem of erosion, and it needs to be resolved."

Despite being on UNESCO's Tentative List since 2004, Majuli has not yet received its final World Heritage designation. Over the years, the Brahmaputra's constant erosion has drastically decreased the island's landmass, making conservation efforts extremely difficult.

Experts warn that the island’s shrinking geography threatens not just its physical existence, but also the sustainability of its cultural and ecological heritage.

Dr Anand Hazrika, retired principal of Majuli College, "Majuli is now not just an island, it is recognised as an independent district of Assam. Earlier, it was known only as an island, but now it is a district of Assam. It is the world’s largest river island. There is no other island in the world with such a large population, along with such a rich cultural heritage."

According to the locals, UNESCO recognition is essential to preserving Majuli's unique biodiversity, landscape, and centuries-old khetras, which are Vaishnavite sacred sites strongly linked to Sankardev's life and philosophy.

Jayanta Bora, President, Garmur Satra Managing Committee, says, "Regarding this, we have submitted all the required documents to UNESCO for Majuli to be declared a World Heritage Site. It has been 15 years, but UNESCO has not yet declared it. Majuli is a historical land, and it has still not been declared. In Majuli, there are 31 Khetaras (sacred places)."

Even as the island fights the unrelenting forces of nature, the people of Majuli see the renewed demand as a call to preserve centuries of faith, art, and identity that goes beyond international recognition.