Local MLA Monika Bora and former education minister Ripun Bora inaugurate the statue of Kalaguru Bishnu Prashad Rabha in front of the Gohpur Town Committee office in Sonitpur on Friday. Picture by UB Photos

Tezpur, June 20: Chief minister Tarun Gogoi today announced a financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh for the development of the cremation ground of cultural icon Bishnu Prasad Rabha at Tezpur and setting up of Jyoti-Bishnu Cultural University at Balipara in central Assam’s Sonitpur district.

The announcement came at a programme organised by the state directorate of cultural affairs on the occasion of presenting the Bishnu Rabha Award at a function at the District Library auditorium here today.

Commemorating the contributions of the cultural icons of the state, Gogoi said despite many disturbances in society, people are still availing a “humane society” as a fruition of great works of cultural icons like Kolaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha, Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, Nataxurya Phani Sharma and Xudhakontho Bhupen Hazarika.

Gogoi stressed the urgent need to create an atmosphere of harmony among different communities of the region through cultural exchange.

“Culture is to be the main platform for taking forward our nation. It has a deep relation with nature; but it is a matter of regret that today we are destroying that relation as our natural resources, including world famous one-horned rhino, are being mercilessly killed by certain evil forces, thereby creating a conflict between human and nature. This has to be checked to sustain a balanced society. We are facing a conflict as we are being separated from the ideologies of these cultural icons,” said Gogoi.

The award, which carries a citation, xorai, a set of cloth and Rs 1 lakh, was given to photographer Nalini Kanta Baruah and artistes Aimoni Gogoi and Hela Das.

Pro vice-chancellor of Tezpur University, Amarjyoti Chowdhury, said, “The Hari-Har War was not a war of destruction; rather, it was a war of love and affection which was later reflected in Bishnu Rabha’s works. Today those innate feelings of the Kolaguru are required for the survival of much-hyped unity among the different indigenous communities living in the region. Bishnu Prasad Rabha was also an extremely talented actor, film director and dancer.”

The Ban Theatre family, Tezpur Sahitya Sabha, Asomyia Bhakha Unnati Sadhini Sabha and Tezpur AASU organised various cultural programmes here today to celebrate Rabha Divas. The Tezpur unit of BJP Yuba Morcha also celebrated the occasion with a daylong programme that included a blood donation camp at Beseria High School.