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Resea ch A icle
Uni e salis Dimensions o Assamese Ly ical Li e a u e: In e sec ions
wi h Cons i u ional Ideals, In e na ional Law, And Sa a T adi ions
(Wi h Special Re e ence o Majuli’s Kamalaba i, U a Kamalaba i, and Aunia i Sa as)
D . Chi a Ranjan Bo uah
Lawye , Gauha i High Cou , Assam, India
Co esponding Au ho : *D . Chi a Ranjan Bo uah DOI: h ps://doi.o g/10.5281/zenodo.17304182
Abs ac
Manusc ip In o ma ion
This s udy explo es he e olu ion and signi icance o Assamese na ional ly ical li e a u e
wi hin he b oade pa adigms o uni e salism, cons i u ional p inciples, and in e na ional law.
Roo ed in Assam’s dis inc cul u al and geog aphical iden i y, Assamese ly ical li e a u e has
his o ically se ed as a medium o exp essing e i o ial philosophy, cul u al cohesion, and he
collec i e aspi a ions o i s people. F om i s ea lies mani es a ions, i has engaged no only
wi h egional adi ions bu also wi h uni e sal human conce ns, including human igh s,
sus ainable de elopmen , and he ole o mass communica ion—pa icula ly he eligious
communica ion p opaga ed h ough he Neo-Vaishna i e mo emen .
The in ellec ual and philosophical ounda ions o Assamese li e a u e we e es ablished by
S iman a Sanka de a (1449–1568), he eminen sain , philosophe , and social e o me , who
eshaped cul u al exp ession h ough uni e sal ideals o equali y, ha mony, and de o ion. This
endu ing legacy pe sis s in con empo a y a is ic con ibu ions, exempli ied by igu es such as
Zubeen Ga g, whose wo ks e lec mode n Assamese cul u al iden i y while a aining global
esonance (1972–2025).
By examining he his o ical ajec o y and con empo a y ele ance o Assamese na ional
ly ical li e a u e, his pape unde sco es i s alignmen wi h cons i u ional alues o democ acy,
equali y, and eedom o exp ession, as well as i s esonance wi h in e na ional legal
amewo ks ha sa egua d cul u al igh s and human digni y. The s udy highligh s Assamese
ly ical li e a u e’s capaci y o anscend egional bounda ies and con ibu e meaning ully o
global discou ses on humani y, cul u e, and uni e sal alues.
▪ ISSN No: 2583-7397
▪ Recei ed: 11-09-2025
▪ Accep ed: 18-09-2025
▪ Published: 09-10-2025
▪ IJCRM:4(5); 2025: 286-291
▪ ©2025, All Righ s Rese ed
▪ Plagia ism Checked: Yes
▪ Pee Re iew P ocess: Yes
How o Ci e his A icle
Bo uah CR. Uni e salis dimensions
o Assamese ly ical li e a u e:
In e sec ions wi h cons i u ional
ideals, in e na ional law, and Sa a
adi ions. In J Con emp Res
Mul idiscip. 2025;4(5):286-291.
Access his A icle Online
www.mul ia iclesjou nal.com
KEYWORDS: Assamese Ly ical Li e a u e, Na ional Li e a u e o Assam, Uni e salism, Indian Cons i u ion, Cons i u ional Law,
In e na ional Law, Human Righ s, Cul u al Iden i y, Mass Communica ion, Religious Communica ion, Neo-Vaishna ism, Sa a
Ins i u ions (Kamalaba i Sa a, U a Kamalaba i Sa a, Aunia i Sa a), Cul u al Legisla ion.
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1. INTRODUCTION
Backg ound o Assamese Li e a u e:
Assamese li e a u e, wi h i s o igins in he cul u al and spi i ual
adi ions o Assam, e lec s he s a e’s ich his o ical and
philosophical legacy. Roo ed in he wo ks o lumina ies such as
S iman a Sanka de a, Madha de a, and subsequen li e a y
pionee s, Assamese li e a u e has e ol ed as a medium o
exp essing iden i y, esis ance, spi i uali y, and collec i e
aspi a ions. I has se ed as a eposi o y o cul u al memo y,
p ese ing linguis ic he i age while simul aneously engaging
wi h b oade cu en s o Indian and wo ld li e a u e.
Impo ance o Li e a u e in Na ion-Building.
Li e a u e plays a c ucial ole in shaping na ional iden i y and
consciousness. I no only e lec s social eali ies bu also
inspi es ans o ma i e change by ins illing alues o uni y,
esilience, and cul u al p ide. Assamese na ional li e a u e has
signi ican ly con ibu ed o he p ocess o na ion-building by
nu u ing a sense o belonging, p omo ing linguis ic and
cul u al in eg i y, and echoing he aspi a ions o he people. By
add essing hemes o jus ice, equali y, and collec i e ha mony,
li e a u e s eng hens democ a ic ideals and enhances social
cohesion.
Concep o Uni e salism in Li e a u e.
Uni e salism in li e a u e emphasizes he anscendence o
egional o na ional bounda ies o emb ace alues ha belong o
all humani y. Assamese na ional li e a u e, while deeply oo ed
in egional iden i y, also ca ies he po en ial o embody
uni e sal ideals such as human digni y, jus ice, libe y, equali y,
and a e ni y. In he age o globaliza ion and in e cul u al
dialogue, uni e salism ensu es ha Assamese li e a u e does
no emain con ined o e i o ial limi s bu pa icipa es in he
b oade discou se o humani y, he eby os e ing mu ual
espec , empa hy, and coope a ion ac oss cul u es.
Resea ch P oblem, Objec i es, and Signi icance o S udy.
The esea ch p oblem cen e s on unde s anding how Assamese
na ional li e a u e can embody and p omo e uni e sal human
alues while main aining i s cul u al speci ici y. The challenge
lies in explo ing he in e sec ion be ween egional iden i y and
global ideals wi hin he con ex o cons i u ional and
in e na ional amewo ks.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY INCLUDE
1. To ace he e olu ion o Assamese na ional li e a u e
wi hin cul u al and his o ical con ex s.
2. To examine i s ole in na ion-building and cul u al
in eg a ion.
3. To analyze he concep o uni e salism as e lec ed in
Assamese li e a y adi ions.
4. To assess he alignmen o Assamese li e a u e wi h
cons i u ional alues and in e na ional human igh s
p inciples.
-AND-
• To explo e uni e salis alues in Assamese na ional
li e a u e.
• To analyse li e a u e in he con ex o he Indian
Cons i u ion.
• To examine Assamese li e a u e’s connec ion wi h
in e na ional law and human igh s.
• To es ablish i s ele ance in global li e a y discou se.
Signi icance o he s udy:
This esea ch is signi ican as i b idges li e a u e, cons i u ional
philosophy, and in e na ional law, p o iding a mul idisciplina y
pe spec i e. By si ua ing Assamese li e a u e wi hin he
amewo k o uni e sal no ms, he s udy no only en iches
li e a y schola ship bu also con ibu es o he unde s anding o
li e a u e as a ehicle o human igh s, jus ice, and global
cul u al coope a ion.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
1. This e iew si ua es Assamese na ional and ly ical li e a u e
wi hin he wide discou se on li e a y uni e salism and he
in e sec ions be ween li e a u e and law. I syn hesizes ou
s ands o schola ship:
(a) The e olu ion o Assamese na ional and ly ical li e a u e
since he ime o S iman a Sanka de , Madha de ,
D . Bhupen Haza ika, Zubeen Ga g, and o he s;
(b) The idea o uni e salism in Indian and Assamese ly ical
adi ions;
(c) legal pe spec i es, cons i u ional and in e na ional — ha
shape li e a y cul u e;
(d) The ole o sa a ins i u ions such as Kamalaba i,
U a Kamalaba i, Chamugu i (Mukha a ), and Aunia i in
p ese ing and globalizing Assamese cul u al iden i y. Bo gee ,
ecognized wo ldwide as classical music, has been popula ized
by D . Bhupen Haza ika, Zubeen Ga g, and Anga aag Papon
Mahan a. On he in e na ional s age, D . Mamoni Raisom
Goswami ep esen s Assamese ly ical li e a u e wi h
dis inc ion.
2. Assamese Na ional Ly ical Li e a u e: E olu ion and
Conce ns
Schola ship aces Assamese ly ical li e a u e om de o ional
and sa a-based w i ings o mode n poe y, d ama (Bhaona and
Ankia Naa ), and p ose. Two majo s ands eme ge:
Religious and cul u al ounda ions, shaped by he Vaishna i e
e o me s Sanka de and Madha de , wi h s ong links o
eligious mass communica ion and cus oma y law.
Colonial and mode n ans o ma ions, ma ked by he g ow h o
p in cul u e, social e o m, and he ise o mode n gen es in he
19 h and 20 h cen u ies.
3. Uni e salism in Indian and Assamese Li e a u e
The idea o uni e salism in Assamese ly ical li e a u e is
deba ed wi hin cosmopoli an and pos colonial amewo ks.
T ansla ion s udies, li e a y summi s, and c oss-cul u al
exchanges highligh how Assamese li e a u e engages wi h
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uni e sal no ms while e lec ing local iden i y. Li e a u e he e
is also iewed as a medium o sus aining cul u al igh s and
human digni y.
4. Li e a u e and Law: Cons i u ional and In e na ional
Pe spec i es
Schola ship in law and li e a u e emphasizes:
• F eedom o exp ession, censo ship, and he ole o
cons i u ional p o ec ions.
• Cul u al igh s and iden i y, including he p ese a ion o
language and he i age as ecognized unde Indian
cons i u ional p o isions and in e na ional law.
• Human igh s and ep esen a ion, we e li e a u e
documen s igh s iola ions and ad oca es o jus ice.
• Global ins umen s, such as he UNESCO con en ions, he
UDHR, ICCPR, and ICESCR, which a i m li e a u e’s
ole in p o ec ing cul u al di e si y.
5. Thema ic Syn hesis-
Th ee con e gen hemes eme ge:
1. Local pa icula i y and uni e sal claims, especially in
Assamese ex s ha balance egional iden i y wi h
uni e sal human alues.
2. Language, iden i y, and law, including deba es on
linguis ic igh s and mino i y p o ec ion.
3. Li e a u e as cons i u ional con e sa ion, in luencing
digni y, igh s, and cul u al imagina ion, pa icula ly in
con ex s such as he Majuli cul u al landscape.
6. Me hodological App oaches
The e iewed wo ks employ:
• His o ical-cul u al esea ch on ins i u ions and p in
cul u e.
• Compa a i e and ansla ion s udies connec ing Assamese
o Indian and wo ld li e a u es.
• Legal and socio-legal analysis linking li e a u e o
cons i u ional and human- igh s amewo ks.
• In e disciplina y case s udies ha si ua e Assamese
li e a u e wi hin na ion-building and cul u al legisla ion.
7. Gaps and Oppo uni ies
Th ee majo gaps emain:
1. A c oss-disciplina y eading o Assamese li e a u e wi hin
cons i u ional and in e na ional legal amewo ks.
2. Case s udies showing how Assamese ex s in e sec wi h
ju isp udence and cul u al igh s.
3. A model o “si ua ed uni e salism” ha espec s Assamese
pa icula i ies while engaging uni e sal alues.
8 Exis ing schola ship o e s s ong insigh s in o Assamese
li e a y his o y, uni e salism, and law, bu a ely in
dialogue wi h one ano he . This s udy con ibu es an
in e disciplina y pe spec i e, showing how Assamese
na ional and ly ical li e a u e nego ia e uni e sal human
alues, cul u al igh s, and cons i u ional p o ec ions.
C. A ea and Scope o S udy: Majuli’s
1. Kamalaba i Sa a (Es ablished 1673)
Founded unde he guidance o Sh iman a Sanka de a’s Neo-
Vaishna i e philosophy, Kamalaba i Sa a embodies secula
oo s and uni e sal alues. I has con ibu ed signi ican ly o
cul u al p ese a ion, na ion-building, and he sp ead o
uni e sal no ms h ough ly ical adi ions.
2. U a Kamalaba i Sa a (Es ablished 1673, by Bodola
Padma A a)
Roo ed in Sanka de a’s philosophy, U a Kamalaba i Sa a
emphasizes cul u al di e si y, cons i u ional ideals, and
uni e sal human igh s. I s ly ical and cul u al p ac ices ex end
o global dialogues, ein o cing secula and humanis alues.
3. Aunia i Sa a (Es ablished 1653)
Aunia i Sa a has been cen al o Assamese cul u al and
spi i ual li e. I upholds human igh s, cons i u ional p inciples,
and uni e salis adi ions, while p omo ing in e cul u al
exchange h ough ly ical and philosophical p ac ices.
D. Sou ces o Da a
The esea ch d aws upon p ima y Assamese ex s,
cons i u ional p o isions, UN decla a ions, and schola ly
w i ings. Addi ional da a has been collec ed and e i ied
h ough ield p ac ices obse ed a Kamalaba i Sa a and U a
Kamalaba i Sa a, pa icula ly ocusing on de o ional and
cul u al adi ions.
Religious ly ical li e a u e and cul u al p ac ices ha e also been
examined h ough he con ibu ions o eminen Assamese a is s
such as D . Bhupen Haza ika, Zubeen Ga g, Anga aag Papon
Mahan a, and Kalpana Pa owa y. Thei wo ks encompass and
a e associa ed wi h Bo gee , To ka i Gee , olk songs,
P a hana, Naam-Goosha, and songs pe o med du ing Lo d
K ishna’s Raas es i al, among o he s.
E. Uni e salism and Assamese Ly ical Li e a u e-
His o ical Roo s
The o igins o Assamese ly ical li e a u e a e closely associa ed
wi h S iman a Sanka de a and he Neo-Vaishna i e mo emen .
Sanka de a, along wi h his o emos disciple Madha de a, was
no me ely a eligious e o me bu also a cul u al isiona y
whose wo ks e lec ed uni e salis ideals. Th ough Bo gee
(de o ional songs), spi i ual dance, ine a s, and pe o ming
a s, hey es ablished a de o ional legacy cen e ed on Lo d
K ishna. Ins i u ions such as he Chamugu i Sa a p ese ed
hese adi ions and embodied p ac ices ha align wi h uni e sal
no ms o classical music and dance. Thei con ibu ions
posi ioned Assamese cul u e wi hin he b oade global
amewo k o a is ic and spi i ual he i age.
Uni e salis Themes
The ly ical adi ion o Sanka de a and Madha de a
emphasizes alues o b o he hood, peace, jus ice, and
ha mony—p inciples ha esona e wi h uni e sal human igh s
and cul u al igh s. These include:
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a) The igh o wo ship,
b) The igh o eligious mass communica ion, and
c) The p omo ion o social peace, uni y, and in e cul u al
dialogue.
Such hemes si ua e Assamese ly ical li e a u e wi hin
discou ses o uni e salism, e lec ing bo h i s egional iden i y
and i s con ibu ion o global cul u al alues.
Mode n Con ibu ions
In he mode n e a, Assamese ly ical li e a u e has been
ad anced by p ominen cul u al p ac i ione s. Among hem, D .
Bhupen Haza ika s ands ou as an in e na ionally acclaimed
igu e who endea o ed o place Bo gee and Sa iya dance
wi hin he canon o wo ld classical adi ions. His ly ical
exp essions and musical philosophy highligh ed he uni e sal
human condi ion and expanded he global ecogni ion o
Assamese cul u e. Con empo a y a is s such as Anga ag
“Papon” Mahan a, Zubeen Ga g, and Kalpana Pa owa y
con inue his legacy by inco po a ing elemen s o Bo gee and
Assamese ly ical adi ions in o mode n a is ic p ac ices,
he eby sus aining and globalizing he cul u al jou ney ini ia ed
by Sanka de a and Madha de a.
F. Cons i u ional Pe spec i es in Assamese Ly ical
Li e a u e:
This pape examines Assamese ly ical li e a u e h ough he
lens o cons i u ional pe spec i es, ocusing on he P eamble,
Fundamen al Righ s, and Cul u al Righ s. I highligh s how
Assamese li e a u e p ese es iden i y while p omo ing
inclusi i y, and emphasizes he ole o he Sa as and he Majuli
Cul u al Landscape Ac in sus aining Assamese cul u al
he i age on a global scale.
Assamese li e a u e, en iched by spi i ual and cul u al legacies,
has played a i al ole in shaping bo h egional iden i y and
na ional consciousness. The ly ical adi ion, pa icula ly he
Bo gee composed by S iman a Sanka de a and Madha de a,
e lec s a syn hesis o de o ion, philosophy, and uni e sali y.
These wo ks embody cons i u ional alues o jus ice, libe y,
equali y, and a e ni y, making Assamese ly ical li e a u e no
me ely a cul u al exp ession bu also a cons i u ional mi o .
Cons i u ional Dimensions
1. P eamble and Fundamen al Righ s
The Indian Cons i u ion, h ough i s P eamble, en isions
jus ice—social, economic, and poli ical—along wi h libe y,
equali y, and a e ni y. Assamese ly ical li e a u e echoes hese
p inciples by emphasizing human digni y, de o ion beyond
cas e bounda ies, and spi i ual democ acy inspi ed by neo-
Vaishna ism.
2. Cul u al and Educa ional Righ s
A icles 29 and 30 sa egua d cul u al and linguis ic iden i ies
while p omo ing inclusi i y. Assamese ly ical adi ions,
pa icula ly Bo gee and Sa a li e a u e, se e as li ing
embodimen s o hese igh s. They ensu e ha indigenous
he i age is p o ec ed while engaging wi h uni e sal human
alues.
3. Iden i y and Inclusi i y
Assamese li e a u e demons a es he cons i u ional balance
be ween p ese ing local iden i y and emb acing cul u al
plu alism. The inclusi eness o ly ical adi ions e lec s India’s
b oade p inciple o “uni y in di e si y.”
Role o Sa as and Legisla i e Suppo :
The Sa as o Majuli—no ably Kamalaba i Sa a, U a
Kamalaba i Sa a, Aunia i Sa a, and Samagu i Sa a—ha e
been cen al in p ese ing Assamese ly ical adi ions, a , and
philosophy. These ins i u ions no only os e de o ion bu also
s eng hen social cohesion, cul u al educa ion, and e hical
alues.
The Majuli Cul u al Landscape Ac p o ides a legal amewo k
o sus aining his he i age, ensu ing ha Majuli’s cul u al
ecosys em emains p o ec ed while p ojec ing Assamese ly ical
li e a u e o he global s age.
Viewed h ough cons i u ional pe spec i es, Assamese ly ical
li e a u e is bo h a gua dian o cul u al iden i y and a p omo e
o uni e sal human alues. By e lec ing cons i u ional
p inciples, sa egua ding cul u al igh s, and ecei ing
ins i u ional and legisla i e suppo , i con inues o en ich
Assam’s na ional iden i y and s eng hen i s p esence in wo ld
li e a u e.
G. In e na ional Law and Human Righ s Dimension:
The Uni e sal Decla a ion o Human Righ s (1948),
pa icula ly A icle 27, upholds he igh o e e y pe son o
eely pa icipa e in cul u al li e. The In e na ional Co enan on
Ci il and Poli ical Righ s (ICCPR, A icle 19) gua an ees
eedom o exp ession, while he In e na ional Co enan on
Economic, Social and Cul u al Righ s (ICESCR, A icle 15)
p o ec s cul u al pa icipa ion and he p ese a ion o adi ions.
These ins umen s ecognize cul u e no only as he i age bu
also as a undamen al human igh linked o digni y, iden i y,
and dialogue.
In his ligh , Assamese li e a u e se es as a ib an channel o
global cul u al exp ession. The ly ical adi ions o Assam—
especially Bo gee and de o ional pe o mances p ese ed in
he Majuli Sa a ins i u ions—illus a e he exe cise o cul u al
igh s in p ac ice. The Sa as unc ion as bo h spi i ual and
cul u al gua dians, sus aining egional iden i y while opening
space o uni e sal engagemen .
Impo an ly, he Majuli Cul u al Landscape Ac p o ides a legal
amewo k o sa egua ding hese adi ions, aligning local
p o ec ion wi h in e na ional human igh s commi men s. This
Ac ecognizes Sa as, a s, and li e a u e as pa o he wo ld's
cul u al he i age, ensu ing hei su i al agains mode n
p essu es.
Thus, Assamese na ional ly ical li e a u e, shaped by S iman a
Sanka de a’s legacy and nu u ed h ough Majuli’s ins i u ions,
e lec s he ha mony o local cul u al p ese a ion wi h
uni e sal p inciples o eedom, pa icipa ion, and human
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digni y. I demons a es how egional oices, when legally and
cul u ally sus ained, con ibu e o a wo ldwide comp ehension
o cul u al igh s and li e a y uni e salism.
H. Uni e salism, Assamese Ly ical Li e a u e, and he
Global Con ibu ions o Majuli’s Sa a Ins i u ions
(DISCUSSION):
The o igins o Assamese ly ical li e a u e a e deeply oo ed in
he Neo-Vaishna i e mo emen led by S iman a Sanka de a
and his o emos disciple Madha de a. Thei c ea i e ision
ex ended a beyond eligious e o m; hey buil a cul u al
philosophy ha e lec ed uni e salis ideals. Th ough Bo gee
(de o ional songs), Sa iya dance, pe o ming a s, and ine
a s, hey es ablished a de o ional legacy cen e ed on Lo d
K ishna, emphasizing peace, jus ice, and ha mony.
Ins i u ions such as he Kamalaba i Sa a, U a Kamalaba i
Sa a, Chamugu i Sa a, and Aunia i Sa a ha e p ese ed and
nu u ed hese adi ions o cen u ies. These sa as no only
se e as cus odians o Assamese cul u al iden i y bu also
embody uni e sal alues, aligning Assamese ly ical adi ions
wi h global p ac ices in music, dance, spi i uali y, and
in e cul u al dialogue.
Uni e salis Themes in Assamese Ly ical Li e a u e-
The ly ical adi ion o Sanka de a and Madha de a esona es
s ongly wi h he p inciples o uni e salism. Thei wo ks
emphasize:
1. The igh o wo ship – ensu ing inclusi i y and espec o
spi i ual di e si y.
2. The igh o eligious mass communica ion – using ly ical
and a is ic o ms o each communi ies.
3. The p omo ion o peace, b o he hood, and uni y –
ein o cing alues ha mi o mode n human igh s and
cul u al igh s amewo ks.
By embedding such ideals, Assamese ly ical li e a u e
anscends egional bounda ies and con ibu es meaning ully o
he global discou se on human igh s, cons i u ional alues, and
cul u al iden i y.
The Role o Majuli’s Sa as:
Majuli, he la ges i e island in he wo ld, has been he
spi i ual and cul u al nucleus o Neo-Vaishna ism. I s sa a
ins i u ions ha e made endu ing con ibu ions o Assamese
cul u e and o wo ld he i age:
Kamalaba i Sa a (es . 1673) – ounded by Badala Padma
A a, i became a hub o ly ical, musical, and spi i ual p ac ice,
la e gaining ecogni ion ac oss India and ab oad.
U a Kamalaba i Sa a – unde he guidance o isiona y
sa adhaka s like Jana de Goswami, i p omo ed Sanka de a’s
philosophy globally, blending i ual, li e a u e, and secula
alues o Neo-Vaishna ism.
Chamugu i Sa a – a cen e o Mukha a (mask-making) ha
in eg a es isual a is y wi h ly ical pe o mance, ex ending
Assamese cul u al exp ession in o a ecognized wo ld he i age
p ac ice.
Aunia i Sa a – unde leade s such as D . Pi amba De
Goswami, i became an ins i u ion o in e na ional cul u al
diplomacy, ac i ely showcasing Assamese ly ical and spi i ual
p ac ices ab oad.
These sa as s and as li ing es amen s o he con inui y o
Assamese ly ical li e a u e and i s in eg a ion wi h uni e sal
a is ic and spi i ual alues.
Mode n Con ibu ions o Global Cul u al Dialogue-
In he mode n e a, Assamese ly ical adi ions ound global
ad oca es h ough music and pe o mance.
D . Bhupen Haza ika, he “Ba d o B ahmapu a,” ca ied
Assamese music o wo ld s ages, wea ing uni e salis messages
o human digni y, jus ice, and peace in o his ly ics.
Con empo a y a is s such as Zubeen Ga g, Anga ag “Papon”
Mahan a, and Kalpana Pa owa y ha e sus ained his adi ion,
inno a i ely blending classical Assamese oo s wi h global
musical o ms.
Legenda y singe s like La a Mangeshka , Udi Na ayan, Kuma
Sanu, Sh eya Ghoshal, and Usha U hup ha e also len hei
oices o Assamese songs, expanding hei each o wide
audiences and ein o cing hei wo ldwide ly ical signi icance.
Recogni ion and Fo mal S a us-
Wi h Bo gee and Sa iya dance o icially ecognized as
classical adi ions o India, Assamese ly ical li e a u e now
s ands wi hin he canon o wo ld classical a o ms. This
ecogni ion a i ms i s ole no only as a cul u al exp ession bu
also as a ma e o cons i u ional igh s, in e na ional cul u al
igh s, and human igh s, sa egua ding bo h iden i y and
di e si y in he global con ex .
Assamese ly ical li e a u e, oo ed in he ision o Sanka de a
and Madha de a and nu u ed by he sa as o Majuli, has
g own in o a global cul u al o ce. Th ough i s uni e sal hemes
o b o he hood, peace, and jus ice, and wi h con ibu ions om
bo h adi ional ins i u ions and mode n p ac i ione s, i has
es ablished a b idge be ween local iden i y and global
uni e salism.
By in eg a ing law, human igh s, and ly ical language iden i y,
Assamese ly ical adi ions con inue o uphold hei ele ance
in wo ld li e a u e, o e ing lessons o ha mony, inclusi i y, and
cul u al digni y o he in e na ional communi y.
I. Resea ch Findings (MAJOR):
1. Uni e salis Values in Assamese Ly ical Li e a u e
The s udy e eals ha Assamese ly ical li e a u e inhe en ly
embodies uni e salis alues ha anscend egional and
cul u al bounda ies. Roo ed in he philosophy o Sh iman a
Sanka de a (1449–1568), he ounde o Neo-Vaishna ism,
along wi h his disciples Madha De a and bodala Padma Aa a,
his adi ion emphasizes inclusi i y, equali y, a e ni y, and
de o ion exp essed h ough li e a u e, a , and music.
In . J . o Con emp. Res. in Mul i. PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL Volume 4 Issue 5 [Sep- Oc ] Yea 2025
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Ins i u ions such as he Sa a o ganiza ions o Majuli—
including Kamalaba i Sa a, U a Kamalaba i Sa a, Aunia i
Sa a, and Samagu i Sa a—ha e ins i u ionalized hese alues,
p ese ing hem as pa o Assam’s cul u al and spi i ual
legacy. Th ough Bo gee (de o ional songs), bhaona (d ama),
dance, and ly ical composi ions, Assamese li e a u e p ojec s
ideals o peace, human digni y, and uni e sal ha mony.
These p ac ices align closely wi h he philosophy o
uni e salism ound in Indian hough while simul aneously
esona ing wi h global human aspi a ions.
2. Cons i u ional and Legal Dimensions-
A second majo inding is he p o ound alignmen o Assamese
ly ical li e a u e wi h cons i u ional ideals. The philosophy o
Neo-Vaishna ism esona es wi h he alues ensh ined in he
P eamble o he Cons i u ion o India: Jus ice, Libe y,
Equali y, and F a e ni y.
Righ o Wo ship & Cul u al Righ s:
• A icle 25 gua an ees eedom o conscience and he igh
eely o p o ess, p ac ice, and p opaga e eligion.
• A icle 26 p o ec s he igh o eligious denomina ions o
manage hei own a ai s.
• A icle 29 ensu es he igh o ci izens o conse e hei
cul u e.
• A icle 51A( ) makes i a undamen al du y o alue and
p ese e he ich he i age o India’s composi e cul u e.
Thus, Assamese ly ical adi ions—beginning wi h Sanka de a
and con inuing h ough mode n cul u al icons such as D .
Bhupen Haza ika and Zubeen Ga g— e lec and s eng hen he
cons i u ional e hos o cul u al di e si y, equali y, and
inclusi i y.
In addi ion, s a e legisla ions, such as he Majuli Cul u al
Landscape Ac , and o he p o ec i e measu es p o ide s a u o y
ecogni ion o Assamese cul u al ins i u ions, ensu ing ha
ly ical li e a u e and adi ions emain sa egua ded as pa o
na ional iden i y.
3. Global Rele ance: Human Righ s and Peace-
The hi d inding highligh s he con ibu ion o Assamese
ly ical li e a u e o global discou ses on human igh s and
peace. Neo-Vaishna i e philosophy emphasizes non- iolence,
inclusi i y, a e ni y, and human digni y, p inciples ha align
wi h in e na ional legal amewo ks:
Uni e sal Decla a ion o Human Righ s (UDHR, 1948):
• A icle 18: F eedom o hough , conscience, and eligion.
• A icle 19: F eedom o exp ession.
• A icle 27: Righ o eely pa icipa e in cul u al li e.
In e na ional Co enan on Ci il and Poli ical Righ s
(ICCPR, 1966):
• A icle 18: Righ o eedom o hough , conscience, and
eligion.
• A icle 19: Righ o eedom o exp ession.
• A icle 27: Righ s o mino i ies o enjoy hei own cul u e.
In e na ional Co enan on Economic, Social, and Cul u al
Righ s (ICESCR, 1966):
• A icle 15: Righ o ake pa in cul u al li e.
By sus aining and ins i u ionalizing hese alues, Sa as ac as
gua dians o Assamese cul u al iden i y while con ibu ing o
in e na ional human igh s p inciples. Recogni ion o hese
adi ions by in e na ional o ganiza ions and wo ld eco d
ins i u ions u he alida es hei global signi icance.
j. Conclusion o Findings-
F om Sanka de a and Madha De a o mode n Assamese
ly ical icons, his adi ion demons a es con inui y and
uni e sal ele ance. The esea ch iden i ies h ee key
indings:
1. Ins i u ional Con inui y: The Sa as o Majuli ha e
p ese ed and globalized he Neo-Vaishna i e ly ical
he i age since he 15 h cen u y.
2. Legal and Cons i u ional Alignmen : Assamese ly ical
li e a u e is s ongly aligned wi h cons i u ional p o ec ions
and legisla i e measu es, ensu ing he p ese a ion o
cul u al igh s.
3. Global Recogni ion and Peace Con ibu ion: Assamese
ly ical li e a u e con ibu es o uni e sal discou ses on
human igh s, cul u al ha mony, and peace, es ablishing
i sel as a b idge be ween local adi ions and global
alues.
Thus, Assamese ly ical li e a u e s ands as bo h a na ional
cul u al easu e and a uni e sal he i age, oo ed in Neo-
Vaishna i e philosophy, sa egua ded by cons i u ional and
in e na ional law, and celeb a ed globally as a ehicle o peace
and human digni y.
REFERENCES
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3. Uni ed Na ions Gene al Assembly. Uni e sal Decla a ion o
Human Righ s. UNGA Res 217 A (III). Pa is: UN, 1948.
4. Uni ed Na ions Gene al Assembly. In e na ional Co enan on
Ci il and Poli ical Righ s. New Yo k: UN; 1966.
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