Chandrakanta Bhawan in Jorhat. Telegraph picture

Jorhat, Jan. 2: On January 11, chief minister Tarun Gogoi will offer a New Year gift to the people of the state by opening the re-constructed Chandrakanta Bhawan, the headquarters of Asam Sahitya Sabha in Jorhat.

The old building had weakened over the years and constant waterlogging on the premises during the past few years had fanned fears about the future of the priceless in-house collection of literary artefacts, documents and books.

Hence, the Sabha embarked on an ambitious plan to replace the old building with a modern replica.

Gogoi had sanctioned Rs 1.15 crore for reconstruction of the new building, which is not only a landmark of the town but also an important establishment of Assamese society.

As part of the reconstruction plan, an open-air theatre near the boundary walls of Chandrakanta Bhawan is nearing completion. A modern auditorium on the first floor of the adjoining Radhakanta Bhawan, too, will be constructed under the plan.

Philanthropist Radhakanta Handique had donated the original building and plot of land in memory of his youngest son, Chandrakanta, who died in England while studying there. Construction of the building started in 1924 and was completed two years later.

Press adviser to the chief minister, Deba Kumar Bora, told The Telegraph that the plan was to make it a literary-cum-cultural museum, as the building, with it huge collection of artefacts, old books and documents, had “immense heritage value”.

Bora, also the working president of the heritage preservation and reconstruction committee, having members of the Sabha, government officials and some known public figures, said the committee had decided with great pain to bring down the original building after consulting architects and civil engineers. He said the experts had said the technology needed to lift the original building was not available in Assam and its implementation would be “very expensive”.

Bora also said videos and still photographs of the building were taken to maintain accuracy. All the doors and windows that were in good shape were being reinstalled and every detail followed to make the new building look like the previous one.

He said the open-air theatre would have galleries on two sides of the low stage with seating capacity of over 200, and events like book-release, recitations, literary meets or cultural shows would be held there.

He said sculptures of iconic literary figures would be installed in the front yard and paintings highlighting cultures of different ethnic groups of the state would adorn the boundary walls.

The construction for a modern auditorium on the first floor of the adjoining Radhakanta Bhawan would be taken up soon after the inauguration of the bhawan and the open-air theatre, Bora added.