File picture of Lakshminath Bezbaruah’s house at Sambalpur in Orissa

Guwahati, April 17: Asam Sahitya Sabha — the premier literary forum of the state — will build a statue and a memorial of Assam’s literary icon Lakshminath Bezbaruah in the western Orissa town of Sambalpur, where the legendary litterateur had spent two decades of his life.

Sabha president Rong Bong Terang told The Telegraph that besides preserving Bezbaruah’s memories, it will also strengthen the age-old literary and cultural bond between the two states.

In the first week of this month, a delegation from the Sabha led by Terang, visited Bezbaruah’s house at Sambalpur, located on the banks of the Mahanadi.

During his stay at Sambalpur, Bezbaruah penned many a gem as the editor of the Assamese magazine Bahi. He was deeply inspired by the Mahanadi and the natural beauty of Orissa that was reflected in his writings. He also wrote short stories on the social fabric and indigenous communities of Orissa.

“During our recent visit to Orissa, we interacted with cross-sections of people. It was really heart warming to know that people of Orissa held him in such high esteem. We were surprised that people of Sambalpur knew more about Bezbaruah than many of us,” Terang said.

He said they had decided to construct a statue of Bezbaruah and a memorial near his house at Sambalpur because it would not only keep his memories alive, but also strengthen the literary and cultural bond that Assam and Orissa had shared for centuries.

“We share a strong linguistic, social, literary and cultural bond spanning across centuries,” Terang said.

He said the idea of constructing the statue and the memorial at Sambalpur was mooted by Radha Bora, an executive member of the Sabha. “Bora is even ready to bear the expenses,” Terang said.

He, however, rued that the house where Bezbaruah stayed was now lying in a dilapidated condition.

“I hope the house is renovated and converted into a museum soon as the governments of Assam and Orissa, including Assam Governor J.B. Patnaik, are taking keen interest in it,” he said.

The Assam government has also earmarked Rs 1 crore to renovate the house and convert it into a museum.

Interestingly, the building’s heritage status came into the limelight when a few journalists in Orissa wrote about it some years ago.

Bezbaruah stayed in that house from 1924 till August 18, 1937, the day he left for Dibrugarh. He gifted the house to his eldest daughter, Aruna Mukherjee, in 1934.

However, there are legal hassles involved in renovation of the house. Though the house is now in possession of the Orissa government, a person claimed ownership of the property. He claimed it was sold to his family in 1944. The matter is now subjudice and the Orissa government is fighting the case in court.