STAFF REPORTER
Dispur, Oct 3: Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu who is in Guwahati as part of his North East tour, today inaugurated Mahabahu Brahmaputra River Heritage Centre in presence of Governor Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma at Panbazar in Guwahati. It may be noted that the old Deputy Commissioner's bungalow atop the Barphukanar Tila in Panbazar, beside the Brahmaputra, has been converted into the Brahmaputra River Heritage Centre by the State government. The British annexed Assam in 1826. The post of DC was created for Guwahati in 1839. But the city had no appropriate house at that time to accommodate Captain James Matthie, the first DC. Several sites were surveyed before Barphukanar Tilla on the banks of the Brahmaputra, where cannons used in the Battle of Saraighat lay scattered, was chosen. Post-independence, it continued to be the DC's bungalow until 2011. A project to convert it into a heritage museum was later taken up under the Brahmaputra Riverfront Development plan. The heritage centre has on display the heritage of boats, an amphitheatre, an exhibition space, a cafeteria, and so on and so forth. The other attractions include a collection of traditional fishing equipment, photographs and artifacts related to the history of Guwahati and river transport. The bungalow has installations depicting the textile designs, ethnic motifs and indigenous musical instruments. It may also be noted that under the aegis of Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority, the entire hillock with the Deputy Commissioner's bungalow perched on top, along with the surrounding grounds have been transformed into the Brahmaputra River Heritage Centre, dedicated to the spirit and legacy of the majestic Brahmaputra. The Vice President, after arriving in Guwahati today on a tour to the North East, began his trip by inaugurating the Brahmaputra River Heritage-Cultural Centre. He also visited the museum and several other sections of the centre like the art gallery, the Central Hall with the theme ‘Life Along the River’ and ‘Majuli Corner’, containing famed masks, panel paintings and other artifacts. He released a coffee-table book ‘Forever Guwahati’ on this occasion. Minister Housing and Urban Affairs Ashok Singhal and a host of other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.
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