Guwahati: The Chief Advisor of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), Samujjal Bhattacharjya stated on Tuesday that the state government should endeavour to construct contemporary research institutions and museums.
The AASU president delivered the aforementioned remarks while addressing the podium at the Pratima Barua Pandey memorial award ceremony. He said that it was essential for the state’s folk culture to be preserved.
It should be noted that the Pratima Pandey Award 2022 was handed to revered folk artist Eklavya Gham today.
Having presented the award, Samujjal Bhattacharjya said, “Eklavya Gham has made a major contribution with his art for the people. Every person associated with cultural activities should work towards the betterment of the art form, humanity and life in whole.”
The head of the AASU also advocated for the preservation of Pratima Barua Pandey’s Matiabag home by stating that a folk culture festival ought to be held annually.
He said, “A folk culture festival should be organized annually. Pratima Barua Pandey’s residence at Matiabag in the Dhubri district of Assam should be preserved.”
“It should be preserved in a beautiful manner so that the younger generation can acquire knowledge from it,” added Bhattacharjya.
In Guwahati’s Chandmari earlier that day, the AASU hosted a celebration honouring the folk legend Pratima Barua Pandey on the occasion of her passing anniversary. Samujjal Bhattacharjya started things off by lighting the ceremonial lamp.
Eklavya Gham, a well-known folk artist from Dhemaji, was presented with the Pratima Pandey Award at the occasion. He was also honoured with seleng sador, Gamusa, Xorai and Rs. 25,000 cash.
Invited artists gave a performance of Goalpara traditional tunes after the awards ceremony. A number of people, including journalists and AASU members, attended the ceremony.
Pratima Barua Pandey, a Goalpariya folk singer, is perhaps best known for putting Goalpariya Lokgeet on the national stage with songs like “Hastir Kanya,” “Mur Mahut Bandhure,” and numerous others.
She hailed from the Gauripur royal family in the Dhubri area of west Assam. The Padma Shri and Sangeet Natak Akademi honours were given to her in recognition of her efforts to popularise Goalpariya folk music.
She was the niece of Devdas director Pramathesh Chandra Barua and the daughter of Prakritish Chandra Barua.