Guwahati: Assam's Himanta Sarma government acquired land and house at Kuthori near Kaziranga National Park to set up a cultural centre that once belonged to Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika. An official informed that Kaliabor sub-divisional officer P K Das has handed over about seven bighas of land to the culture department last month.

He said that the Assam government has proposed to set up a cultural project at a place in Nagaon district, including a museum, a cinema hall, and a library, to preserve all his works, including Hazarika's songs and literary works. Family members said Hazarika, who was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, had purchased the land under kaliabor subdivision in 1974 and built a house named 'Apun Ghar'. He had also planned to set up a cultural centre there.

Hazarika stayed in this house and wrote many timeless songs and composed many literary works. Though he had to sell both land and house due to some unavoidable circumstances, his fans and intellectuals had appealed to the State Government to acquire the land and set up a cultural centre in his memory. Officials said the property owner decided to give the land to the state government for setting up the project as a tribute to Assam's cultural talent.

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