Lakshminath Bezbaruah's Sambalpur house to be open for public

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The iconic Sadhana Griha or study house of Lakshminath Bezbaruah, being renovated and restored on the banks of the Mahanadi in Odisha's Sambalpur district, would soon be thrown open for the public.

The heritage house spread over 2,030 square feet. Lakshminath Bezbaruah used the study house as an office during his stay there from 1917 to 1937. The Odisha Chapter of INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) is renovating the house. While the Assam government had extended an amount of Rs 50 lakh, the Odisha government also cashed in with Rs 55 lakh for the renovation.

Talking to The Sentinel, Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbaruah Smriti Rakhya Samiti (SLBSRS) general secretary Rantu Deka said on Saturday that the renovation of Lakshminath Bezbaruah's Sadhana Griha has been completed and will be inaugurated soon. The Samiti members on Friday met Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to apprise him about the development.

The Sadhana Griha has three rooms with a central hall. The rooms have been designed as three galleries dedicated to his life, literary creations and family.

"We met the Chief Minister to convey him the good news. We also requested him for an early inauguration of the heritage house which has lots of sentimental value for the people of Assam. He promised to take up the matter with the Chief Minister of Odisha. We are expecting an early inauguration. A library and also a mini-museum will be set up at the Sadhana Griha in line with the Lakshminath Bezbaruah Museum located at the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra. We have contacted the Assam Publication Board for books that will adorn the library. The museum will feature 40 rare photographs of Lakshminath Bezbaruah, among other things. The house will have space for audio-visual display and a reading room along with other facilities," Deka said.

The SLBSRS general secretary further said that the renovation and restoration work of Lakshminath Bezbaruah's residential house at Sambalpur will start soon. The house has a plinth area of 4,735 square feet. The Assam government allocated Rs 80 lakh for the renovation of the house in this year's budget. The Odisha government has also assured financial assistance for the renovation work. He thanked both Assam and Orissa governments for extending their helping hands for the project.

Deka said that SLBSRS chief adviser Deepak Kumar Panda took many initiatives for the renovation works.

The SLBSRS had earlier raised the demand for a direct train between Assam and Sambalpur in Odisha. It said the train should be christened "Sahityarathi Express".

Also Read: Renovation of Lakshminath Bezbaruah's house in Odisha almost complete

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