Pulok Gogoi with his mural painting. Telegraph picture

Dec. 15: The city is all set to witness the history of Guwahati Refinery, the first public sector refinery in the country, on the biggest ever mural painting in the Northeast.

For the last three months, veteran actor and painter Pulak Gogoi has been working on the painting at an open space in Noonmati Tiniali, around 100 metres from the refinery. It will be formally inaugurated in January.

The 1,400-square-foot mural painting is a reminiscent of the days when the people of Assam spilled into the streets to stop the Union government from taking away crude oil from the state and demanded a refinery of their own. The streets of the city were witness of those vigorous protests.

“I am trying to depict the history of the Guwahati Refinery. It was a hard-earned refinery for the people of Assam. We have seen the kind of protest organised by the people during those days. I am trying to infuse their spirit in the painting,” Gogoi said.

Inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, in 1962, the Guwahati Refinery is run by the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.

The painting is being made as part of the golden jubilee celebrations of the refinery.

Gogoi said the mural was the biggest one in the Northeast. To depict the history he has included slogans like, Tej dim tel nidiu (Will shed blood but not give oil), in the painting.

Besides the history of the refinery, the rich cultural tapestry of the state is also a subject of the painting, which represens images of Bagurumba, Bihu and Xattriya.

“Since childhood, I have seen these dances and other cultural elements. I am adding them in the painting,” he said.

Gogoi’s team includes Dadul Chaliha, Ranjit Paul and Anu Ramchiary.

The painter is using Palladio Italian tiles to make some sections of the painting.

“Mostly one-square centimetre tiles are being used to make the painting. I fabricated them in Ahmedabad and brought here,” Gogoi said.

Dust of bricks, cement and some chemicals are being used by him in the other portion of the painting.

“Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is supposed to inaugurate the painting in January,” Gogoi said.

One of his mural paintings, which he made 21 years ago at Jyoti Chitraban in the city, is still glowing.

Gogoi said officials of the refinery had handed the task to him after they were impressed by his painting at Jyoti Chitraban. He said rain and dust could not destroy the mural painting. “The more rain it gets, the tighter it becomes,” he added.