Unplanned urbanization a threat to archeological study: Choudhury

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, May 22: Former tiol Museum of India’s Director General Rabin Dev Choudhury said that unplanned urbanization is a threat to archeological study in the State.

Choudhury was the guest of the month in Guwahati Press Club today. He said that the discovery of Ambari archeological site shows the tremendous potential the city possesses. “Places like Guwahati are very rare in the country. Archeological sites are buried underneath the unplanned buildings like Reserve bank of India, Guwahati Press Club etc. The print media played an active role in conservation of Ambari Archeological site,” he said.

Choudhury is of the view that there is lack of conservation initiatives in so far as archeological discoveries in the state are concerned. “In country like Bangkok a minor archeological discovery like a wall is conserved with much importance. There is a lack of knowledge of history which affects conservation efforts,” he said.

Choudhury said that the Assam State Museum in the city lacks necessary infrastructure, including curators, officials and guides. He is of the view that to attract visitors the museum has to be attractive. “The current fee of five rupees per person was initiated way back when State government failed to provide salaries to employees. Now the economy has become sound. It is high time the museum needed overall revamp,” he said.

The former director general feels that the history of Ancient India is linked with Assam and said that Assam has always been a part of India. He said that there are instances in the Mahabharat proving the facts.

Commenting on Brindabani Bastra, which is currently in different museums of the West, Choudhury said that it is always noble to keep to some part of ancient history of Assam outside the country. “We don’t have necessary infrastructure to keep the vastra here. In the process, the people in the West are getting the knowledge about the culture that the state possessed,” he said.

Choudhury let the newsmen know that an intertiol semir on archeological monuments and history will be held in December. The South Asian countries, along with Mongolia, Iran, Afghanisthan, would be roped in. The semir would see the bond that Assam had with these countries. “Assam has a link between the civilizations of these countries. I have seen use of hay in making houses in South Korea, along with Dheki  like in Assam,” he said.