Vrindavani Vastra to Come Home in 2027; Assam CM Finalises Deal with British Museum
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday announced that a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed in London on Monday with the British Museum to facilitate the return of the sacred Vrindavani Vastra to Assam under a loan agreement.
Calling it a moment of immense cultural significance, the Chief Minister wrote on X: “Tomorrow is a big day for Assam & Bharat. We are signing an MoU with the British Museum so that the sacred Vrindavani Vastra can be brought back home under a loaning arrangement. Vikas & Virasat continue to be pillars of our governance agenda.”
CM Sarma is currently in London on a high-level visit aimed at finalising the terms for bringing the historically treasured textile back to its homeland. In another post from his ongoing trip, he shared glimpses of his engagement with the local Indian community as well as insights drawn from London’s urban development.
“On my first day in London, I visited the city’s waterfront. We are transforming Guwahati’s riverfront and are in the process of borrowing some of the global best practices. In between, I also met our hardworking diaspora and interacted with them,” he wrote.
The Chief Minister began his London visit on Saturday with the primary objective of securing the temporary return of the Vrindavani Vastra — a priceless 16th-century silk textile created under the guidance of the revered neo-Vaishnavite saint Srimanta Sankardeva. The artefact, currently preserved in the British Museum, is expected to be displayed in Assam in 2027, according to CM Sarma.
Before departing from Delhi, Sarma released a video message outlining the mission’s significance and the preparations underway in Assam. “Perhaps tomorrow (Sunday), we will sign an MoU with the London Museum to bring the Vrindavani Vastra to Assam in 2027. Till then, for the next two years, we will have to build a museum to preserve it with utmost care. Our government has allotted land in Guwahati’s Khanapara area to the cultural affairs department for this purpose,” he said.
The planned museum in Khanapara is expected to function as a secure, climate-controlled facility capable of displaying and preserving the centuries-old textile.
The temporary return of the Vrindavani Vastra is seen as a significant cultural milestone for Assam, expected to deepen public pride and highlight the artistic and spiritual legacy of Sankardeva’s Vaishnavite renaissance. Once signed, the MoU will mark another important step in India’s efforts to reconnect with historically displaced artefacts and ensure their accessibility for future generations.
