What Makes Batadrava Than Historic? Amit Shah Explains Assam’s Spiritual Renaissance

“Batadrava Than is not merely a place of worship; it stands as a living symbol of Assamese harmony and the timeless message of unity preached by Srimanta Sankardeva,” Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared on Monday, inaugurating the redevelopment of the saint’s birthplace in Borduwa (Batadrava), Nagaon district.

The day began with a traditional Assamese welcome, complete with vibrant performances of Gayan-Bayan and Diha Naam, which resonated across the historic site. Shah, visibly engaged, joined in the rhythmic claps, immersing himself in the spiritual atmosphere.

The Union Home Minister inaugurated the ₹227-crore redevelopment of Batadrava Than, spread over 162 bighas of land and completed in three phases. The project aims to preserve the spiritual and cultural legacy of Srimanta Sankardeva, while also promoting Neo-Vaishnavism and providing modern facilities for devotees and visitors.

“This redevelopment includes the promotion of Neo-Vaishnavism, installation of the spiritual symbols of the Srimad Bhagavad, and bringing them to life in statue format after proper research. I had the honour of laying the foundation stone during the bhumi pujan on December 26, 2020, and today I am delighted to inaugurate it,” Shah said.

He highlighted the enduring relevance of Sankardeva’s teachings:

“Sankardeva’s message of humanity, motherland, and unity, articulated nearly 500 years ago, envisioned the idea of one India, a vision that continues to guide the nation today.”

Shah also emphasized Assam’s development trajectory:

“While the Congress invested about ₹1 lakh crore in Assam over a decade, the present BJP-led government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has facilitated investments exceeding ₹15 lakh crore for the state’s growth.”

A significant portion of Shah’s address focused on illegal settlement in the region. He noted that sacred and strategic lands, including areas around Batadrava Than, had been encroached by illegal Bangladeshi settlers over decades.

“The government has evicted over 1.29 lakh bighas of encroached land, including parts of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. This historic drive ensures that sacred places like Batadrava Than are preserved for rightful citizens. Congress allowed illegal settlers through the IMDT Act in 1983, but the BJP has fulfilled its promise of removing infiltrators not only from Assam but across the country,” Shah said.

He also spoke about Assam’s journey from unrest to peace, citing accords such as the Bodo Accord (2020), Karbi Accord (2021), Adivasi Accord (2022), and DNLA and ULFA peace agreements in 2023, which have resolved almost 92 per cent of long-standing issues.

Recalling his earlier visit to Guwahati, Shah highlighted the book “Assam’s Braveheart Lachit Borphukan”, translated into 23 Indian languages, which chronicles Assam’s history and the valour of the Ahom warrior.

He added that the Modi government and the government led by Himanta Biswa Sarma also worked to secure a GI tag for the ‘Gamosa’. He further said that the 16th-century ‘Vrindavani Vastra’, which depicts all episodes from Lord Krishna’s childhood in Vrindavan and was, in a way, designed by Srimanta Sankardeva, has also been popularized across the country through exhibitions by Prime Minister Modi.

The Union Home Minister also stated that today, the entire world flocks to see Assam's Bogibeel Bridge.

"We have completed the work of converting the 85-kilometer Kaliabor-Numaligarh section of NH-715 in Assam into a four-lane highway at a cost of ₹7,000 crore. We have sanctioned the Silchar-Churaibari Corridor at a cost of ₹3,400 crore. The 166.80-kilometer road from Meghalaya to Panchgram in Assam has been sanctioned at a cost of ₹22,864 crore. The construction of India's largest rail-cum-road Bogibeel Bridge has been completed at a cost of ₹6,000 crore. The four-lane Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge over the Brahmaputra River has been started at a cost of ₹5,000 crore. The Dhola-Sadiya Bridge was completed in 2017 at a cost of ₹2,000 crore. Under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS), 19 road and bridge projects have been initiated at a cost of ₹646 crore. Another six-lane bridge over the Brahmaputra is under construction. Assam's connectivity is also being strengthened through railways, airways, and several waterways," Shah said.

He further said that at a cost of approximately ₹8,000 crore, the Government of India has undertaken work under the Jal Marg Vikas Project to enable passengers from across the country to reach Assam via waterways. The 84-foot-high statue of Lachit Borphukan has been completed. India's first indigenously built cruise ship, 'MV Ganga Vilas', has completed its journey from Varanasi to Dibrugarh. Several medical colleges, including AIIMS, have been established, and Navodaya Vidyalayas have been opened. PM Modi has dedicated a 750-bed AIIMS in Assam, constructed at a cost of approximately ₹1,123 crore.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that a Tata semiconductor unit is being set up in Assam at a cost of ₹27,000 crore. Along with this, a new Ammonia-Urea Complex is being constructed within the premises of Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited (BVFCL) at a cost of ₹10,601 crore, with a production capacity of 13 lakh metric tonnes of urea per year. In addition, a large number of private industries are coming to Assam. He said that Assam has now become a land of development instead of agitation.

At one time in Delhi, Assam was considered a state that created problems, but today Assam has become the growth engine of the entire Northeast and is leading the country on the path of development. He said that this transformation has taken place over the last 11 years under Prime Minister Modi’s government and during the ten-year tenure of his party’s government in Assam. Shri Shah said that the opposition allowed infiltrators to enter, undermined Assam’s culture to expand its vote bank, and worked to damage the state’s values, literature, traditions, and overall cultural heritage. Amit Shah appealed to the people of the state to give his party’s government another chance, saying that it is their resolve to completely free Assam from infiltrators. Those who view infiltrators as a vote bank cannot do this. Shri Shah said that his party believes infiltrators pose a very serious threat to the country’s security and to Assam’s culture.

Meanwhile, after visiting Borduwa, Shah returned to Guwahati, paying homage to the martyrs at the Swahid Smarak Kshetra, inaugurated on December 10, and also inaugurated the ₹111-crore Guwahati Police Commissionerate building, the ₹189-crore Integrated Command and Control System (ICCS), and the ₹291-crore Jyoti Bishnu Cultural Complex, a 5,000-seater modern auditorium.

Following Shah’s visit, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the day as “extremely sacred and historic” for the Assamese people. He highlighted the completion of public demands, such as widening the road from Borduwa to Oshinaki, and stressed that the Abirbhav Kshetra of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva will serve as a centre for discussion, learning, and spiritual engagement.

“Today is not only a historic day for Assam, but for the entire country. Visitors coming to Borduwa will not have to bear personal expenses, as the government will provide necessary facilities to ensure comfort and convenience for devotees and tourists alike,” Sarma said.

The redevelopment of Batadrava Than, Shah noted, is more than a construction project—it is a symbol of cultural revival, spiritual heritage, and the unity of Assam’s diverse communities, bringing together Assamese, Bodo, Mising, Karbi, Rabha, Koch Rajbongshi, Tai, tea tribes, Bengali, and Nepali populations under the shared legacy of Neo-Vaishnavism.

Also Read: Amit Shah Arrives in Guwahati for Day-Long Assam Visit, Heads Straight to Batadrava Than