Assam State Museum in Guwahati. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, July 14: The gun of Assam’s first martyr of freedom struggle, Maniram Dewan, weapons used by the Japanese soldiers to fight the Allied forces during World War II and various traditional weapons of the Ahom army will be on display at a new gallery to be added to the Assam State Museum.

Director of museums S. Ahmed said some of the attractions of the new gallery would be Maniram Dewan’s gun, Japanese bombs, Sten guns and a rubber suit apart from ahengdan (a traditional sword of Ahoms).

“The rubber suit was worn by the Japanese soldiers to protect themselves from poisonous gases and smoke during World War II,” he said. Also on display will be different types of cannons and cannonballs dating back to the latter part of Ahom rule.

The director said the construction of the gallery was nearing completion and it would be inaugurated within a month or two. The state directorate of museums is constructing the gallery under the guidance of Indian Museum, Calcutta.

Ahmed said there would be more than 60 exhibits preserved and displayed scientifically in the new gallery.

The Assam State Museum, established in 1940, boasts of a rich collection of archaeological and historical objects. Ahmed added that the museum would get another gallery, which will highlight the age-old cultural ties between the people of Assam and the Southeast Asian nations.

“The proposed gallery will display various items reflecting the art and culture of Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and Bali,” he said.

The state government has decided to set up the gallery because through the centuries there has been a cultural link between the Northeast and Southeast Asia. “There was a shared history, culture and civilisation between the Northeast and Southeast Asia and the proposed gallery will highlight that,” the director said.

In February this year, Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visited Nam Phake village in Dibrugarh district to get a feel of the place and people, who are believed to be from the same stock as the Thai royalty.