N. Saikia delivers the memorial lecture at Kanaklal Barua auditorium at the museum on Monday. Picture by UB Photos

Sept. 12: A get-together and function were held today in remembrance of Naupat Rai Kedia, the person who donated generously to the formation of the Assam State Museum in the late 1930s.

The function was organised by Kamrup Anusandhan Samiti, Indian Art History Congress along with Kedia family members at Kanaklal Barua auditorium in the museum this evening.

Naupat Rai Kedia’s act of benevolence was immensely significant at a time when there were doubts over setting up of the museum because of lack of funds.

By today’s standards, Rs 8,300 may seem a paltry amount, but it was this sum which went a long way in setting up of the Assam State Museum. People recollect his contribution even today.

Established in 1940, the museum has a large collection of archaeological and historical objects for which a large number of people visit it everyday.

“The number varies between 75 and 100 people per day on an average, but on holidays the footfall increases to several hundreds,” an employee of the museum said.

A lecture was also organised on the topic — Folk life and folk culture of Northeast region — in memory of Naupat Rai Kedia, which was delivered by Nagen Saikia, former president of Asam Sahitya Sabha.

A member of the Kedia family had come to Assam from Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan two centuries ago. Naupat Rai Kedia was born in 1892 and was associated with numerous civil work projects in Assam. He died in 1960.

In his lecture, Saikia highlighted how the culture of the state had been shaped during the past several centuries through contributions of people from different languages and religions.

He said though the forefathers of cultural icon Jyoti Prasad Agarwalla came from Rajasthan, they married local girls and became domicile Assamese, thus setting an example for others.

“We are extremely happy today that the people have looked back on what my grandfather had done for the museum at that time,” Deukinandan Kedia, grandson of Naupat Rai Kedia, said.

He added that considering the valuable contribution of Naupat Rai Kedia, he was made the life member of the Museum Trust.

The museum, which was established by the British government, was formerly known as Assam Provincial Museum.

R.D. Choudhury, chairman of Indian Art History Congress, said, “Before the museum was taken over by the government, Naupat Rai Kedia’s contribution to the museum was immense. Besides, we cannot forget another personKedarmal Brahmin, for his contribution in setting up the museum.”