Workers at the site in Jorhat on Tuesday where Rupkonwar's statue will be installed. Telegraph picture

Jorhat, Nov. 30: A few businessmen here have decided to install a life-sized statue of Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwalla, a doyen of Assamese culture, in the heart of the town, with an aim to inspire the Generation Next Marwari community in Assam.

The Jorhat Municipal Board has allotted a small plot of land (17ft in length and 14ft in breadth) on the AT Road Marwari Patty, a hub of the Marwari community in Jorhat town, with construction having started a few days back.

The statue is scheduled to be formally inaugurated on the next Silpi Divas, the death anniversary of Jyoti Prasad Agarwalla, on January 17.

Makhan Gattani, one of the businessmen involved in the project, told The Telegraph that he along with few others, including the local municipal ward member and a businessman, Ashok Malpani, had come up with the idea and decided to approach the board for the plot of land. The Jorhat Municipal Board had recently vacated the land from encroachers. He said Malpani took up the matter with the municipal authorities and permission was granted for the plan.

Gattani said the main aim of project was to make the new generation aware of the immense contribution of Jyoti Prasad Agarwalla, who belonged to the Marwari community, had made towards the growth of Assamese culture and to draw inspiration from such a great person.

“The younger generation should know the role of Agarwalla towards development of Assamese culture in its manifold. A dramatist, lyricist, song composer, first Assamese filmmaker, poet and a freedom fighter, Jyoti Prasad is an icon, and installing his statue will inspire the youths of our community to contribute more to Assam, where they are born and brought up,” he said.

The ward member, Ashok Malpani, said about Rs 5 lakh was estimated for the project with over 40 traders assuring to contribute for it. He said the statue, which will be 8ft high, will be made from fibreglass material, which gives a brighter look and lasts longer.

Malpani said a young sculptor, Binod Daw, who has won several national and state-level awards and also had held exhibitions across the country, has been commissioned for the statue.

He said a round platform, 5ft high, with steps attached to it would hold the statue and the design was being done by Prasanta Baruah, a local youth.

Another businessman, Dilip Agarwal, said a committee of the contributors would be formed soon, which would maintain the place.

Jorhat Municipal Board chairman Prasanta Bora said the board, after liking the proposal, granted permission to put up the statue.

Bora said the board would include the project among its other schemes taken up as part of the civic body’s centenary celebrations.

“With no statue of Agarwalla on the side of a road in this town, this one will stand out,” the chairman said.