JSW Group Partners with Assam Government to Set Up World-Class Heritage Museum
Bengaluru: The JSW Group has partnered with the Government of Assam to establish a state-of-the-art museum in Guwahati, which will house the historic Vrindavani Vastra, a 17th-century devotional textile created under the guidance of Srimanta Sankardev. The British Museum has consented to loan the Vrindavani Vastra for public exhibition in Assam in 2026-27, where it will remain for 18 months.
The Significance of Vrindavani Vastra
The Vrindavani Vastra is a priceless treasure of Assam and India’s collective cultural heritage, depicting the early life of Lord Krishna in Vrindavan. This 9.5-meter-long and 2-meter-wide silk textile is one of the largest surviving devotional silk textiles of its era, representing the cultural and devotional identity of Assam. According to Sangita Jindal, Chairperson, JSW Foundation, “The Vrindavani Vastra is a magnificent textile that embodies deep devotion and artistry.”
Museum Construction and Features
The Government of Assam has allotted land at the Sericulture Farm, Khanapara, Guwahati, for the construction of the museum, which will be fully funded by the JSW Group. The museum will be designed with climate-control systems, conservation protocols, and international museological standards to ensure the safe display of the Vastra. After the Vastra’s exhibition concludes, the facility will continue as a world-class heritage exhibition space for Guwahati, enabling the city to host international cultural showcases and exhibitions of global significance.
A Collaborative Effort
The initiative was announced by Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, who welcomed the JSW Group’s commitment as a vital step in realizing a long-cherished cultural aspiration of the people of Assam. The JSW Group will construct the museum as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative and gift it to the Assam government. Abin Chaudhuri, architect of the proposed museum, said, “Designing a museum for the Vrindavani Vastra is both an honor and a responsibility. Our vision is to create a space that balances reverence and modernity.”
