DC office to be shifted to make space for art galleries
HT Correspondent
JORHAT, May 18: Rajya Sabha member Kamakhya Prasad Tasa on Wednesday announced that there was a proposal to shift the deputy commissioner’s office and all the departments in the complex and outside it to one integrated administrative complex at the site where the Upper Assam commissioner’s office is located in Cinnamara, in the district, leaving space for art galleries and a museum to be housed in the British era heritage building.
This was in response to a demand by artists and authorities of Jorhat Museum for land and funds to erect a proper museum and art gallery in Jorhat so that the artefacts could be properly displayed and the art and sculptures made by artists of Jorhat could also be showcased.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the exhibition of artefacts and paintings at Jorhat District Museum as part of International Museum Day celebrations, Tasa said that the BJP government was in favour of preserving the heritage and culture of a place adding that the more than 100 year old heritage building after renovation would be an apt place to display the ancient artefacts and scrolls as well as have a gallery to preserve the art and sculptures of renowned artists of Jorhat.
Admitting that the present Jorhat Museum location was not in a central place, Tasa asked Jorhat Museum officer Abantika Parashar to send letters to all schools in the district so that museum tours could be planned and children remain connected with their past and culture.
Jorhat MLA Hitendra Nath Goswami also assured the gathering of working with the museum authorities to construct a museum in the next four years left of his tenure as MLA.
YS Wunglengton, director, Directorate of Museums, Guwahati, who was here for the event said that Rs 28 lakh had been sanctioned for Jorhat District Museum to build a gallery for displaying everything including paintings and other items in which would be reflected the history, culture and commercial aspects of Jorhat. He also appealed to the MLA and MP to help in setting up an art gallery as the Jorhat Museum and art was growing together to reflect all the aforementioned aspects.
A street play to make people aware about the importance of handing over idols and other items unearthed so that they could be preserved in museums instead of beginning to worship these out of superstitious fear as often happened, was also staged.
