SHANKU SHARMA
The historic Silchar District Library and Auditorium which was established in the year of 1961 now stands completely demolished. Such major steps are taken in order to build up another structure with more efficiency so that it carries the same purpose as the older one. The new construction of the building will start soon. However, what lies now is a complete stream of emotions of people for the old building.
The Cultural activist and prominent figure of Silchar Sangeet Vidyalaya, Nandini Bhattacharjee stands in front of the ruins and imagines it as a new beginning to this land but what pinches her the most is the letting go off the old times. She says, “I was 4 or 5 years in age when I came in contact with the district library. It was in the year of 1966, when I along with my family performed dance. My words fail to describe my feelings of attachment I had with this Library.” Every time, I come across the ruins of the Library, it automatically reminds me of Tagore’s phrase “Tomaye nuton kore pabo bole harai ami je.” With heavy heart, I just hope that the new ‘version’ of the District Library will feature all amenities and facilities.
Though, a new building is taking over its place. The emotions are running high over the demolition of the prestigious Silchar District library. “The historic auditorium once reverberated to the stirring speeches of many eminent personalities, legendary singers and musicians, dramas, plays, and theatres. We have so many memories associated with it. The building has been demolished but the memories can never be erased. This auditorium was the nucleus of all the cultural activities. There was a feeling of sublime that was attached in performing at the District Library. It was a place for emotion for the people here. Performing here was used to be a dream-cum-true moment. I used to attend competitions, concerts, cultural events, among others, regularly. Though I have performed in many other halls and auditoriums, yet the feeling of performing at the District Library cannot be matched. However, broken and demolished it may be now, the old District Library will always have a special place in my heart,” Nandini Bhattacharjee added.
She further adds, “It will be good if performers, cultural activists, artists, among all others who have practical knowledge about stages and auditoriums remain vigilant while the construction of the new auditorium begins. Let the authorities have their say as well.”
Like Nandini Bhattacharjee, play writer and theatre actor Babul Das said, the District Library was his second home and that he was associated with it from the early 70s. “I remember that in the latter part of the year 1972, we (Ganasur, a Silchar-theatre group), for the first time, performed outside our Public School Mancha. We performed ‘Jokhon Brishti Namlo’ and it was a dream-cum-true moment for us.”
Babul Das, who has performed at various auditoriums and stages across the country, said, “Silchar District Library has a charm of its own. There was a feeling of joy in it. We used to acquire the auditorium regularly for hosting and conducting plays. I feel there cannot be a stage or auditorium like the District Library.”
Babul Das’s last play at Silchar District Library was Dasharupak’s (a theatre group) ‘Go Captain Go’, which was staged on March 28, 2019. It was written by Chitrabhanu Bhowmik. “From 1972 to 2019, I have been emotionally and physically attached to the District Library. For us, Natak (play) is synonymous with Silchar District Library,” said Das.
Maitrayee Dam, a leading vocalist, and prominent cultural activist, said how Silchar District Library was special to her. She came in touch with it in the early 70s or in the later part of the 60s. “Cultural events were rare in those days. I grew up in the midst of various cultural events. During my college days, I used to frequently visit the District Library. In fact, going there was like a social gathering. It was home to us. Unforgettable it was and so was the Ranjan’s tea-shop. Those golden days, evenings, and nights, dipped in love, warmth, and affection, will forever remain engraved in my heart. We used to spend nights on Sangeet Chakra’s nightlong classical programs. Our nights used to be filled with innumerable gossips and tea. Many legendary figures from Kolkata (then Calcutta) and other states used to perform here.
Though Silchar District Library gradually gave away (lack of infrastructure, proper care, and attention), there was a homely feeling attached to it. We never used to complain about that. Events related to radio, Doordarshan, among others, used to get conducted regularly at the District Library. It was a part and parcel of our life. “The District Library’s demolition came as a shock to me. I felt as if I have lost a dear relative of mine. I visited daily to the District Library during Rupam’s theatre competition, which was the last program held here. I just got some of my own photos clicked. I will forever cherish those photos, those clicks, those days, and those nights. Alas, we will never see the old District Library again. However, it will remain somewhere in the corner of my heart,” she said.
Maitrayee Dam is especially stressed on the need of acknowledging those electricians, those technicians, and those workers, who used to toil day and night for arranging some of the best cultural events ever conducted at Silchar District Library. “A major part of the success, which the District Library tasted, should be attributed to these workers and helpers. We could have done nothing without them. There were no modern facilities, equipment, or instruments to facilitate things. I will miss those tiring moments, those brain-storming sessions, and those gala events,” she added.
Deepak Kanti Dutta Biswas, a former librarian of Silchar District Library, regretted the drastic decrease in the number of book readers and book lovers. He joined the District Library in the year of 1970. He said, “Around 150 book readers used to visit the Library for issuing and reading books. During the time of my retirement, the number of book lovers came down to around 4 persons. I have seen almost all prominent personalities issuing books, reading newspapers, and spending time at the Library. With television, all these activities stopped,” he added.
Nikhil Paul, general secretary of Rupam, a socio-cultural and sports association, which started its journey in the year 1975, said, “The new District Library will have two new auditoriums, one with a seating capacity of around 1200 persons and the other 300 people. It is good to see that finally the historic District Library, which was set up on the occasion of the birth centenary of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore in 1961, will be rebuilt more beautifully. However, Rupam has so many fond memories of the District Library.”
Eminent playwright, actor, and theatre director Shekhar Debroy laid emphasis on the need of renovating the library besides the auditorium. “Our next-generation should know about the library and its collection of books. I have been associated with Silchar District Library for a very long time. I have so many fond memories of it. The new District Library should have a well-equipped library, having a vast collection of books, newspapers, and periodicals,” he said.
“I would also like to see that people from all communities and castes should be and are well-represented in the new building/architecture of the District Library. In other words, it should represent and reflect the multi-culture of Barak Valley,” Shekhar Debroy added.
Sunirmal Bagchi alias Rantu, a prominent figure in the realm of lights and sound in this part of the country, said, “Though things have developed a lot now, I along with late Subhash Choudhury and other associates (Tintu Roy, Swapan Chakraborty, among others) used to work hard to create and recreate the magic of light and sound. We had almost no equipment or instrument for creating light and sound, however, we used to enjoy accepting the challenges.” Rantu Bagchi has been attached to the District Library since its inception. In fact, he was inclined towards lighting and sound system since his school days. “The District Library in its initial days had nothing to be proud of (infrastructure, equipment, and instruments). We used our own instruments and materials. I supplied two spotlights. There were no dimmers and no good bulbs. I remember using a 200W bulb for lighting the system for a drama competition. Our drama teams used to win prizes, and we used to work hard for creating the perfect ambiance,” he said.
Rantu Bagchi has taken part in various drama competitions and exhibition shows across the country. He is now attached to Banga Bhawan, Silchar. “I spent my entire life at Silchar District Library,” said the legendary Rantu Bagchi.
It is to mention here that Pranati Phukan, the Assam minister for Cultural Affairs, visited it on the occasion of Rabindranath Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary celebrations in 2012. Rupam, Barak Upatyaka Banga Sahitya O Sanskriti Sammelan (BUBSOSS), Beekshan Cine Commune, District Library Construction and Development Committee, among others, have voiced the need of revamping the District Library.
In fact, a committee was formed (when S. Viswanathan was the deputy commissioner of Cachar), which used to provide updates on different aspects of the renovation of the District Library. Nikhil Paul pointed out that a committee should be reformed, which would supervise all the works related to the renovation of the District Library. “The auditorium, now demolished, could accommodate around 700 people. The new ones will accommodate around 1500 people in it,” he said.
Silchar MLA Dilip Kumar Paul said, “Works related to its refurbishment have been completed recently, albeit in a controlled environment. The project is expected to get completed within the next few months. In fact, foundation work is likely to begin in October.”
The MLA, who inspected the work from time-to-time, said, “The works had to be stopped due to the coronavirus pandemic. Most of the workers had returned to their respective homes and district. I hope that the work will begin soon.” Dilip Kumar Paul conducted a series of meetings with some leading citizens and cultural activists regarding the revamping of the District Library.
