The Chief Advisor of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), Samujjal Bhattacharjya on Tuesday said that state government should work towards building modern museums and research centers.

The AASU chief was speaking at the Pratima Barua Pandey memorial award presentation event where he made the above statements. He said that it was necessary for the preservation of folk culture of the state.

It may be noted that eminent saint of folk art Eklavya Gham received the Pratima Pandey Award 2022 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.”

Championing for the preservation of the Matiabag residence of Pratima Barua Pandey, the AASU chief further mentioned that a folk culture fest should be organized every year.

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.

Earlier in the day, AASU organized an event on the death anniversary of the folk legend Pratima Barua Pandey in Guwahati’s Chandmari. Samujjal Bhattacharjya initiated the proceedings with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp.

At the event, noted saint of folk art from Dhemaji, Eklavya Gham received the Pratima Pandey Award for the year. He was also honoured with seleng sador, Gamusa, Xorai and Rs. 25,000 cash.

The awards ceremony was followed by a performance of Goalpara folk songs by invited artists. The event was attended by AASU members, journalists and several others.

It may be mentioned that Pratima Barua Pandey was a Goalpariya folk singer who brought Goalpariya Lokgeet on the national platform with her evergreen numbers like ‘Hastir Kanya’, ‘Mur Mahut Bandhure’ and many more.

She hailed from the royal family of Gauripur in west Assam's Dhubri district. She was honoured with the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi awards for her contribution to popularising Goalpariya folk music.

She was the daughter of Prakritish Chandra Barua and niece of filmmaker Pramathesh Chandra Barua of Devdas fame.