Multi-lingual effort

July 27: Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra will make a Hindi version of its popular programme, Light and Sound, for visitors from outside the state.

Light and Sound is a 45-minute programme by the cultural institution where the history of Assam is presented to the people in a unique way — with the help of sound and light only.

Actor Victor Banerjee has written the English version of the show. Sitting atop a building in the evening, the visitors can listen to the history of Assam from the pre-historic day to the Independence struggle. To stir their imagination, lights with different intensity and colour are used to illuminate various objects arranged on the slope of a hill.

The sound boxes are set in different directions of the gallery so that it can engage the audience while giving them the real effect of a situation.

“We have decided to make a Hindi version of the show. It will help the visitors who come from outside the state,” said Sarodi Saikia, secretary of the Kalakshetra.

The Kalakshetra has been conceived as a grand exposition of the life and culture of the people of Assam, of its diverse ethnic groups and sub-groups who have created the cultural mosaic, which is the essence of the state, in all its beauty and splendour.

Named after Srimanta Sankaradev, a neo-Vaishnavite saint of the fifteenth century, the Kalakshetra attempts to capture and convey the essence of the seer’s spirit, who preached the message of unity in diversity, sang of glorious “Bharata-Varsha” and universal brotherhood. The institution also attempts to preserve, restore, research, promote and develop the rich cultural heritage of the diverse ethnic communities inhabiting Assam.

“Lighting focuses on statues, houses, stairs, karenghar and a wheel to lay stress on different situations. For example, to speak about the Ahom dynasty, the light is focussed on the karenghar and on the stairs to represent time,” said Saikia. She added that although the number of audience, according to her expectation, is relatively few, in the show but whoever comes do not return disappointed.

“We hope as soon as the Hindi version of the show is made available more people will be benefited by being able to know the history of the state. But we have to make some arrangements in the show time. At present, there are shows in Assamese and English,” she said.

The Kalakshetra is also organising a workshop on mask making and kuhila xilpo (a traditional handicraft form) that will come to an end tomorrow. “We have invited artistes from Barpeta to train the participants,” said Saikia.