Sivasagar Natya Mandir set to reopen after five years, reviving cultural legacy

OUR CORRESPONDENT

SIVASAGAR: After a five-year hiatus, the historic Sivasagar Natya Mandir — once considered among the finest modern auditoriums in Northeast India — is all set to reopen its doors, thanks to a special initiative led by noted social activist Saurav Chaliha.

Established in 1899 in the heart of Sivasagar town, the Sivasagar Natya Samaj was one of the pioneering cultural and theatrical institutions of Assam. The original venue was set up on land donated by Radhika Prasad Baruah and Bhabani Baruah near the present-day Boarding Field. The initial structure was built using bamboo and thatch, providing a platform for early 20th-century artists and cultural activists.

The first ever Rongali Bihu Sanmilan was held at this venue in 1943. The event was chaired by the noted poet Raghunath Choudhury, with Dr Maheswar Neog serving as the secretary. Prominent personalities like Bimala Prasad Chaliha, Padmanath Gohain Baruah, and Bhuban Gogoi were closely involved during that era.

In memory of his late brother Bhagawati Prasad Baruah, renowned lyricist Parvati Prasad Baruah contributed financially to the construction of a revolving stage at the Natya Mandir. In the 1980s, the movement to modernize the auditorium was taken up by the late Seuj Konwar Parag Chaliha, a towering figure in Assam’s political, educational, cultural, and theatrical circles. His efforts led to the 1996 inauguration of the newly-modernized Sivasagar Natya Mandir by then Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. The legendary Ustad Amjad Ali Khan had the honour of opening the stage.

Over the years, numerous celebrated actors and cultural figures have performed at the venue, including Girija Prasad Baruah, Tarini Charan Sharma, Bibhuti Chaliha, Amir Harish, Abdul Majid, Bharat Baruah, and many others.

Following the demise of Parag Chaliha, his wife and noted educationist Dipali Chaliha was elected president of the Natya Samaj, while his younger son Saurav Chaliha assumed the role of chief coordinator.

In 2020, the Sivasagar Natya Samaj publicly resolved to further upgrade the venue into a state-of-the-art cultural centre. Responding to this call, then Finance Minister and current Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the site and assured full financial support for the renovation.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic led to a temporary halt in cultural activities, the Chief Minister allocated close to  Rs. 2 crore in phased funding for the Natya Mandir’s transformation. As per chief coordinator of Sivasagar Natya Samaj Saurav Chaliha, the structural upgrades are now complete, and the venue is scheduled to reopen within a month.

The prolonged closure had posed a significant challenge for hosting large-scale cultural events in Sivasagar. With a seating capacity of nearly 700 including the balcony, Sivasagar Natya Mandir stands out as the district’s largest performance venue.

The reopening of this landmark venue is being eagerly awaited by the cultural community and residents of Sivasagar, who view the theatre as a vital part of their heritage and artistic identity.

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