Guwahati, April 21: The Assam State Museum will celebrate its platinum jubilee with a yearlong programme by organising symposia and exhibitions in association with prominent institutions of the country.
The yearlong celebration began today on the premises of the museum here, with different persons fondly recalling the contributions of the museum to the state and its founders.
The former deputy general of National Museum, Robin Dev Choudhury, retired professor of New Delhi-based National Museum Institute, A.K. Das, and former secretary of ministry of agriculture, Bhaskar Baruah, were present on the occasion.
“We have lined up symposia and exhibitions to mark the yearlong celebration,” said Y.S. Wunglengton, the director of the museum.
The museum, since its inception, has relentlessly pursuing collection, conservation, documentation and preservation of cultural heritage of the Assam and neighbouring states in a scientific manner. It is today a treasure house for over 14,000 objects of which nearly 5,000 are being displayed.
The Kamrupa Anusandhana Samiti, which was the pioneer organisation in the field of historical and antiquarian studies of the state, established the Assam Provincial Museum in 1940, later re-christened the Assam State Museum, which was formally inaugurated by the then governor of Assam, Sir Robert Neil Reid.
Rai Bahadur K.L. Barua’s untiring efforts were greatly responsible for the establishment of the museum.
The first building of the museum was constructed with the money received from public donation and government grants.
The museum, at present, has 14 galleries, including Natural History Gallery and North East Gallery, which have been set up recently.
Wunglengton, however, said the museum was reeling under an acute manpower crisis. “We need at least three curators and five assistant curators to look after all these galleries. At present, only one assistant curator is handling all these. Besides, the posts of joint director and deputy directors are also lying vacant.”
A.K. Das said though the museum was young in comparison to the 200-year-old Indian Museum in Calcutta and over 350-year-old Ashmolean Museum in England, it is successful in preserving the identity of the people of Assam.
