Office of the Prime Minister
South Block, Raisina Hill
New Delhi - 110011
India

Subject: An Appeal for Transparency in the Kamakhya Corridor Project to Ensure Preservation of Sacredness, Spiritual Core, and Ecological Stability of the Nilachal Hills.

Hon'ble Prime Minister,

JAI MA KAMAKHYA!

We, the collective of devout bhaktas and upasakas of Ma Kamakhya, pen this appeal with a sense of great anxiety and frustration.

We write this against the backdrop of a series of very unfortunate incidents this year, like the Uttarakhand tunnel tragedy, large-scale ecological disasters in Himachal Pradesh, cracks in Joshimath, and a few others that did not gain as much traction.

We write this upon realizing that the Kamakhya Corridor project is being executed with great opacity, with not sufficient information in the public domain, other than a few tweets and a four-minute video, on what kind of construction activities, digging, and blasting are likely to occur at the sacred Nilachal Hills.

Over several months, various RTIs were filed to obtain this information. However, neither the PMO nor the State of Assam have, surprisingly and unfortunately, responded to any of these RTIs.

As a government that believes in transparency and corruption-free development, the project appears to be proceeding in complete violation of everything that the present government claims to represent.

Lessons from Past Environmental Disasters

All the tragedies this year - Uttarakhand tunnel, Himachal, Joshimath, and many others - had at least two common themes: unbridled 'development' in ecologically and seismologically sensitive zones, PLUS violation of the sacredness of the local deities and Tirtha.

The tragic events in Joshimath, the catastrophic collapse of the Himalayan tunnel, and the flash floods in Himachal stand as harrowing reminders of nature's wrath when her balance is disrupted. These incidents, marked by community displacement and environmental havoc, are warnings of the dangers of development that ignores ecological and spiritual sensitivities.

These calamities are stark reminders of the consequences of disrupting nature's balance, often believed by the astika-s as manifestations of divine discontent. They highlight the critical need to maintain ecological equilibrium, especially in spiritually significant kshetras like Kamakhya.

We fear this pattern will be repeated at Kamakhya, which is not just a powerful spiritual center but also the guardian of the sensitive Northeast region. Any unmindful ‘development’ that disturbs the ecological, and hydrological balance, and sacredness of the Kshetram, would lead to an unmitigated disaster for generations to come.

It is in this context that the appeal is being made to you, not only as the Prime Minister of Bharat but also an upasaka of Devi, the feminine energy, of which Kamakhya is the ultimate celebration.

The Spiritual Significance of Kamakhya in Dasha Mahavidhya

Kamakhya is one of the most venerated Shakti pithas and commands tremendous reverence in tantric traditions. It contains not only the great temple of Kamakhya as Kameshwari but also caters to the naturally formed shrines of the dasa mahavidyas, Shiva, Bhairava, Ganapati, etc. By historical and spiritual traditions, Kamakhya pitha has existed for at least 3000 years or perhaps more. In a way, it is easily one of the oldest existing shrines of dharma from a much earlier era. Great legendary siddhas from Matsyendranath to Brahmananda Giri perfected their spiritual practices at this pitha. We ordinary people and devotees worship her as the incarnated Mahamaya or Adi Shakti and refer to her as Ma Kamakhya. Its religious importance is so profound that tantra-s make exclusive reference to Kamakhya pitha, among all else, explaining various details of the whole Nilachal parvat. Even the Devi Bhagavata Purana considers Kamakhya as the parama gati or ultimate abode.

Therefore, it is safe to say that Ma Kamakhya holds a position of tremendous respect and reverence among worshipers of Shakti, especially those inclined towards tantric upasana. It is crucial to understand that the Kamakhya temple is not just a structure or a building, but its spiritual edifice extends across the entire Nilaparvata. It is believed that the mountain itself is the body of Shiva, upon which rests the great goddess. This is why specific references can be found in our shastras about the penance and merits earned by approaching the Nilaparvata from different directions.

Additionally, the uniqueness of Kamakhya lies in the fact that it is the natural stream of water pouring out onto the caves that form the main spiritual life-blood of this kshetra. Therefore, these sensitive and unique spiritual aspects of the pitha must be kept in mind while performing any demolition activity on this hill, so they remain untampered.

Guarding the Sanctity of Kamakhya’s Spiritual Landscape

Our apprehension stems from the 3D model tweeted by the Chief Minister of  Assam and circulated in the media, indicating significant changes to existing structures, and possible large-scale demolition of the Nilaparvata to accommodate various proposed buildings and other structures on the hill. This level of construction and digging activities can easily affect the temples and other sensitive areas of the Nilaparvata, causing damage or even obstruction to the flow of the natural water stream underground.

Furthermore, a lack of transparency and any public confidence-building measures, clarifying all misgivings about the impact on the ecology and hydrology of the hill, have raised serious concerns among many spiritual practitioners about the long-term negative impact that such reckless constructions can cause. 

A pitha is not merely a temple but a center or anchor to guard and nourish dharma in and across the whole country. It has been nurtured and catered to by upasakas for innumerable millennia; however, any rash demolition activity without considering all spiritual aspects is directly inviting disaster, not just now but for all times to come. Development is a good idea, but it cannot and should not happen at the cost of tampering with the spiritual geography of a kshetra of this magnitude and importance!

A Call for a Cautious Development Approach and the Importance of the Divine Feminine Energy

A cautious approach to development is vital, involving a thorough hydrological study, environmental impact assessment, and respect for the spiritual sentiments of various upasaka-s and practitioners who regularly perform sadhana in this kshetra. The spiritual sanctity of Kamakhya must be the foremost priority. We advocate for a transparent, inclusive decision-making process, reflecting Dharmic values of collective welfare and harmony, and ensuring that the uniqueness of this great tantric pitha remains unharmed by any rash human activity. In-depth consultations with stakeholders, spiritual leaders, upasaka-s and the local community are crucial for achieving broad consensus.

The significance of Kamakhya in symbolizing divine feminine energy and celebrating womanhood aligns with your government's commitment to Nari Shakti. This alignment underscores the need for development that honors and protects the essence of this sacred site.

Conclusion

We urge you to reconsider the approach towards the Kamakhya Corridor Project. Our appeal is for progress that respects our spiritual and ecological ethos. Comprehensive assessments that consider the site's spiritual significance are essential. The voices of local communities, spiritual authorities, and environmental experts must be central to this discourse.

We trust in your wisdom and leadership to navigate this delicate matter, ensuring development that honors our sacred traditions and natural heritage. Let us preserve Kamakhya's sanctity for future generations, setting a precedent for development in harmony with our spiritual beliefs and Nature.

In closing, we echo the ancient wisdom: "The Earth does not belong to us; we belong to the Earth." We urge the honorable Prime Minister to consider these aspects with the necessary gravity they deserve, ensuring Kamakhya and Nilaparvata’s divine essence and ecological and spiritual integrity remain unharmed in any manner whatsoever.

Jai Ma Kamakhya.

Respectfully,

Gitika Bhattacharjya 
Rajarshi Nandy.