Sambalpur: The INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) has started renovation and conservation work of the house of the doyen of Assamese literature, Lakshminath Bezbarua here, an official said Sunday.
Bezbarua stayed in Sambalpur for 20 years from 1917 to 1937. He had constructed two houses in the Nelson Mandel Chowk here in the year 1924. He lived in one of the houses, while the other he used as office.
The INTACH has been renovating the building, which was used as office by the Assamese poet, said member of the organisation’s Sambalpur chapter, Deepak Panda.
“The old plaster of the walls will be removed and the cracks will be stitched … The roof of the building also requires complete renovation. We have set a target to complete the renovation work of the building within six months,” said Panda.
The portrait of Bezbarua, his literary works, old photographs, artefacts of Odisha and Assam will be displayed in the building after the renovation work is over.
“Anyone who is interested to know about the works of Bezbarua could come here and see the literary creations of the Assamese poet,” he said.
Panda said the INTACH will renovate another building, where Bezbarua stayed, after the renovation work of the building which was used as office is complete.
While the Assam government has sanctioned Rs 50 lakh, the Odisha government has also sanctioned Rs 50 lakh for the renovation work of the two buildings, Panda added.
PNN