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Lack of development hits Gauripur Cultural Centre

By CORRESPONDENT

GAURIPUR, July 5 - Greater Gauripur in Dhubri district is rich in folk culture and famous as the birthplace of legendary filmmaker Pramathesh Chandra Baruah, Goalpariya folk singer Pratima Barua Pandey and story writer Shilabhadra (Rebati Mohan Dutta Choudhury).

The AGP government, during its first tenure and under the initiative of Minister Aniruddha Singha Chaudhury, the Gauripur Cultural Centre was established in 1986. In its first stage, the Centre � under the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Government of Assam � was run in a dilapidated rented house owned by late Upen Gogoi, the son-in-law of the zamindar family of Gauripur and was located near the historic Mahamaya temple. The first officer-in-charge of the Centre was Nanda Neogi. As Neogi was an active cultural activist, the Centre was popular among the people, and under her guidance, several workshops on folk culture were held.

After her retirement, Haridev Das took over the charge of the Cultural Centre. Various programmes like workshops on children�s plays, Mising Bihu, Goalpariya folk song, modern Assamese songs, Sattriya dance, Kushan dance etc., were held.

On public demand, a new building was constructed at a cost of Rs 10 lakh near the Nari Samiti. It is a two-storeyed building but the auditorium in the upper storey remains incomplete.

After a long time, the Cultural Centre was shifted to the new building but this building lacks infrastructure. Haridev Das, Bhudev Das and Arun Bhuyan somehow managed the affairs of the Cultural Centre.

Presently, the Centre is running without organising any cultural activities and seems to be in a state of insolvency causing irreparable loss to young learners who are the future of Goalpariya folk culture.

The people of the area have demanded urgent completion of the auditorium and appealed to the Directorate of Cultural Affairs to provide funds for conducting workshops so that young learners can practise the arts of dancing, acting etc.

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