Sahityarathi Laksminath Bezbaroa Smritirakhsa Samiti is the outcome of an acute sense of obligation towards restoration and preservation of the community resources valued with the cultural heritage and legacy. This sense of obligation brought forth an idea to form an organization for taking care of such an esteemed heritage connected to our culture and literature. This heritage resource is none other than the famous Sahityarathi Lakminath Bezbaroa’s residence at Sambalpur, Odisha which had been lying there for a long eight decade without care in practice from any circle.
In the year 2017 a group of students was taken to the site for performing some cultural acts under the leadership of Mr Rantu Deka, a social activist from Guwahati and Dr. Basanta Kr. Bhuyan, Principal of Gurukul Grammar Senior Secondary School, Guwahati. Having propped up by the guidance of the Sambalpur based historian and journalist Mr Deepak Kumar Panda, the group of students had been able to perform the Bezbaroa’s patriotic song ‘O mur aponar desh’ in five different languages namely Assamese, Odiya, Bengalee, Bodo and Hindi at the site near mighty Mahanadi. In the following year three members of faculty from Cotton University, Dr Maheswar Kalita, Dr Dhrubajyoti Das and Dr Ambeswar Gogoi visited Sambalpur to take stock of the present situation of the Bezbaroa’s residence. Their euphoria got vanished with the scene they witnessed inside the campus of the ‘Bezbaroa Kuthi’ (Residence) at Sambalpur and subsequently while coming back to Assam the trio tried for creating awareness to assess correctly the issue from all quarters.
Amidst this situation it was seen that the issue was dealt with seriously by many Bezbaroa lovers upholding a notion for a collective stance to restore and protect the ‘houses’ of immense heritage value. Considering the need of an organizational approach for proper execution of plans for restoration and preservation of the Bezbaroa’s houses at Sambalpur, the organization namely ‘Sahatyarathi Laksminath Bezbaruah Smriti Raksha Samiti’ was formed in the year 2018 designating Shri Pradyut Kr. Choudhury as President and Shri Rantu Deka as the General Secretary and many distinguished personalities as the other office bearers and general members.
Meanwhile following a significant official move Govt. of Odisha and Govt. of Assam had resolved to preserve both the Bezbaroa houses ie. Sadhana Griha (Used for official and study purpose) and Basogriha (Residence) and accordingly Govt of Assam sanctioned Rs. 50 Lakh and Govt of Orissa sanctioned Rs. 55 Lakh for renovation of the houses through Indian National Trust for Art and Heritage (INTACH). The Sadhana Griha was taken up for renovating first that to our pleasure has already been ready for inauguration. Several hurdles and problems rose in between as well. Sahityarathi Lakhminath Bezbaroa Smritiraksha Samiti had taken care of such issues with the timely initiatives to resolve the same with proper coordination with both the governments. It is to be noted that the President and the General Seceratary of Sahityarathi Lakhminath Bezbaroa Smritiraksha Samiti (SLBSS) visited Sambalpur thrice during the restoration period to co-ordinate with the two Governments in order to expedite the renovation work. Mr Deepak Kumar Panda, a Sambalpur based journalist had extended full support in wiping out snags plotted against the said preservation and renovation work. The discussion held in the office chamber of Sjt. Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi, the Honorable Minister for Tourism etc., Govt. of Odisha during the visit was effectively productive to the cause. The committee has also been in constant communication with the Government of Assam in a way to materialize its aims and objectives. The committee further discussed with Shri Naba Kumar Doley, the erstwhile Hon’ble Minister for Cultural Affairs and Shri Pritom Kumar Saikia, the Commissioner and Special Secretary to the Gove. of Assam for initiating the following projects:
- Regarding development of Ahatguri in Morigaon district, the birth place of Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbaroa into a Tourist Spot.
- Introduction of a direct Air-conditioned Train from Guwahati to Puri via Sambalpur under the title of ‘Sahityarathi Express.’
- Installation of a Guest House/Tourist Lodge at Sambalpur with all possible modern amenities for visitors of the restored Bezbaroa houses.
- Introduction of Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbaroa Academic Chair in Sambalpur University.
