Guwahati: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also happens to be chairman of Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra Society, attended the inaugural ceremony of Kalakshetra’s silver jubilee celebration in the city on Wednesday. Named after 15th century neo-Vaishnavite saint and an outcome of the historic Assam Accord, the cultural complex was inaugurated by the then President KR Narayanan on 9 November 1998.
Built at an approximate initial cost of ₹19 crore, Kalakshetra has been diligently playing its conceived role of a channel for preservation, restoration, research and promotion of the rich cultural heritage of the diverse ethnic groups inhabiting the region.
Sarma, after paying tribute to martyrs of the historic 5-year-long Assam Movement, stated that owing to diligent works of the Kalakshetra society the Assamese culture and identity have been able to penetrate and leave an impact on many corners of not just the country but also abroad. He spoke about its various initiatives like Srimanta Sankardev National Festival, translation of the play Rukmini Haran into Gujarati and performance, translation of the play Parijat Haran into French, etc.
Referring to culture as the most-essential foundation of a progressive community, Sarma narrated the initiatives taken by the State government for enrichment and preservation of the cultural identities of indigenous communities of Assam. He specifically pointed to the establishment of indigenous & tribal faith and cultural department by the government. He assured of all measures necessary for protection, preservation and spread of the State’s ethnic communities.
The inaugural function was also attended by State ministers Bimal Bora, Atul Bora, Kalakshetra society’s vice-chairman Jitul Sonowal, its secretary Sudarshan Thakur, senior government officer Laya Maduri, Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Jatin Goswami, journalist Dhirendranath Chakroborty and noted painter Noni Borpuzari.
