Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurates Brahmaputra River Heritage Centre

School curricula must include lessons on water conservation: Naidu

GUWAHATI: Vice-President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu, who is in Guwahati as part of his Northeast tour, on Sunday inaugurated the Mahabahu Brahmaputra River Heritage Centre in presence of Governor Prof. Jagdish Mukhi and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at Panbazar in Guwahati.

The old Deputy Commissioner's bungalow atop the BarphukanarTila 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, 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.

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, 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.

Later in a Facebook post, Naidu described his experience of visiting Assam and the River Brahmaputra as unforgettable. He wrote that he was "awestruck by the natural beauty of the Brahmaputra, viewed from a splendid riverside garden. I will cherish this memory for a long time". He added that the great river, providing livelihood to millions of people, was an integral part of the region's culture and history.

Noting the importance of rivers and their rejuvenation, Naidu suggested to the Centre and the State governments to include lessons on the importance of water conservation in school curricula. He also suggested that schools should conduct nature camps for students from a young age so that children, especially those living in the urban areas, see and enjoy the splendor of nature.

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