Savitri Jindal, chairperson emeritus of the OP Jindal Group and currently India’s wealthiest woman with a net worth of $35.5 billion, attended the foundation ceremony for a museum in Guwahati, Assam, that will house the 16th-century Vrindavani Vastra. The event was marked by a Bhumi Pujan performed by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at Khanapara.

A Cultural Milestone for Assam

The museum, which will be built on two acres of land, is part of a long-standing effort to bring the Vrindavani Vastra back to Assam for public display. The textile, currently housed at the British Museum in London, is considered one of the finest examples of Assamese devotional art and weaving.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called the textile a ‘symbol of Assam’s civilisation and culture,’ noting that generations have waited to see the priceless relic. He described the museum as the first concrete step toward fulfilling that aspiration.

Historical Journey of the Vrindavani Vastra

The Vrindavani Vastra was woven in the 16th century in Tantikuchi, Barpeta’s Patbausi, under the guidance of Srimanta Sankardev and his disciple Madhavdev. According to Sarma, the textile journeyed from Assam to Bhutan, then Tibet, and eventually reached London in the 20th century.

Sarma recalled first seeing the Vrindavani Vastra at the British Museum in 2007-08, describing it as an unforgettable moment. ‘The brilliance of its colours and the refined artistic and technical skill left me stunned,’ he said. ‘Every Assamese should have the opportunity to see this extraordinary creation at least once.’

Corporate and Government Collaboration

The museum will be constructed under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of the JSW Group, with the Assam government providing the land and the company bearing the construction costs. The project is expected to be completed within 18 months and is envisioned as a world-class cultural facility capable of hosting rare artefacts from across the globe.

Sarma acknowledged the personal efforts of the Jindal family and the diplomatic support that have made the Vrindavani Vastra’s return possible. The JSW Group played a crucial role in advancing the process.

The museum’s launch is part of broader cultural milestones achieved in recent years, including the classical language status for Assamese, global recognition of Bihu, and UNESCO inscription of the Charaideo Maidams. Sarma described the day as ’emotional and historic,’ emphasizing that the arrival of the Vrindavani Vastra in Assam would spark cultural pride and renewed civilisational consciousness, especially among the youth.

Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary, several ministers, MPs, MLAs, senior officials, Satradhikars, devotees, and Richard Blurton, head of the South and Southeast Asia section at the British Museum, were present at the ceremony. Jindal’s presence added a symbolic homecoming touch to the historic occasion, as she was born in Tinsukia, Assam.

The Vrindavani Vastra, once a symbol of Assamese cultural and spiritual heritage, will now have a permanent home in the state. Its return is expected to draw international attention and serve as a symbol of Assam’s rich history and artistic legacy.