Late Padma Kanta Dutta: Founder of Sankar Jayanti in UK in 1983

  In the wake of 557th Birth Anniversary of Mahapurusa Sankaradeva, I was reminded of Late Padma Kanta Dutta (my jethu), the founder of Sankar Jayanti celebrations in London. Padma Dutta came to visit me in August, 1983. He was the then President of Kumargaon Sankar Mandir in Tezpur and a devout Vaisnavite. He gave all his life to Sankar Sangha and served the Sangha dutiully.

During his stay, he was very eager to celebrate Sankar Jayanti Mahotsav in London. Another well-known and a pious lady, Late Subhadra Kakati from Sualkuchi, Dr. Dinesh Kakati’s mother, was also in London at the same time. She was delighted with the idea of starting a Sankar Sangha at London and joined in. Late Khageshsar Saikia, the Secretary of Kumargaon Sankar Mandir in Tezpur was also visiting his daughter in Manchester at the same time. What a coincidence! I saw it as a blessing of the Guru. With Jethu’s inspiration and guidance, I was able to organise the 535th birth anniversary of Srimanta Sankaradeva at Tavistock Community Hall in Harlesden for the first time, with tremendous help from the Assamese community in London. Although the idea was initially started by me, the community took ownership so that we are able to praise our Guru and celebrate Sankar Jayanti every year in London.

With my head bowed in reverence, I pray to these three great people and thank them for leading us to the path of our Guru Mahapurusa Sankaradeva.

Because “The history of the Assamese people, the history of its national awareness is the life of Sankaradeva — he is the pulse of the people”. During the last 555 years, none else who is of Sankaradeva’s stature has been born in Assam. Many religious preachers during this long period may equal Sankardeva in one aspect or another, but none has ever had the combination of expertise like Sankaradeva. He was a poet, a philosopher, a musician, a dramatist, an actor and a producer, a composer of dances, a painter, a much travelled social reformer and the founder of the neo-Vaisnavite faith in Assam, all in one. No genius in the world has been so versatile.

Photo shows from the left, Late Padma
Kanta Dutta, founder of Sankar Jayanti celebrations
in the UK along with his friend,
Late Khageshsar Saikia, in 1983.

- Rini Kakati , London