New Delhi, Nov 17 (NationPress) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has revealed that a pivotal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be executed on Monday in London with the British Museum to enable the return of the sacred Vrindavani Vastra to Assam under a loan agreement.

Describing this as a moment of profound cultural importance, the Chief Minister posted on X (on Sunday night), “Tomorrow is a significant day for Assam & Bharat. We will be signing a MoU with the British Museum to bring back the sacred Vrindavani Vastra home under a loaning arrangement. Vikas & Virasat continue to be the pillars of our governance agenda.”

CM Sarma is presently in London on a high-profile visit aimed at negotiating the terms to retrieve the historically significant textile.

In another update from his trip, he shared insights from his engagement with the local Indian community and his observations on urban development.

“On my first day in London, I explored the city’s waterfront. We are transforming Guwahati’s riverfront and are looking to adopt some of the best global practices. I also had the opportunity to meet our diligent diaspora and connect with them,” he shared.

The Chief Minister commenced 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 venerated neo-Vaishnavite saint Srimanta Sankardeva.

The artefact, currently housed in the British Museum, is anticipated to be displayed in Assam by 2027, according to CM Sarma.

Before his departure from Delhi, CM Sarma released a video message outlining the mission's significance and highlighting the logistical preparations needed back home.

“Perhaps tomorrow (Sunday), we will sign a MoU with the London Museum to facilitate the return of the Vrindavani Vastra to Assam in 2027. Until then, for the next two years, we must construct a museum to preserve it with the utmost care. Our government has allocated land in Guwahati’s Khanapara area to the cultural affairs department for this purpose,” he stated.

The proposed museum in Khanapara is expected to be a secure, climate-controlled facility designed to display and preserve the centuries-old textile.

Bringing back the Vrindavani Vastra, even temporarily, will enhance cultural pride in Assam and cast a global spotlight on the artistic and spiritual heritage of Sankardeva’s Vaishnavite renaissance.

Once signed, the MoU will represent a significant milestone in India’s ongoing endeavors to reclaim historically displaced artefacts and guarantee their visibility for future generations.