This is why this age-old museum in Assam's Dhubri facing existential crisis

The district museum of Dhubri which has been intertwined with many recurring objects related to the history of western Assam, is now in an existential crisis, which holds over eight hundred historical, cultural, and local heritage artifacts of the district that are preserved in a state of nowhere, for more than three decades.   

Locals have voiced strong disapproval over the district administration's inaction regarding the museum's possession of vacant land managed by the Dhubri Ladies Club. The land in question, measuring approximately 4 kathas, 10 lechas of land, in Dhubri Town, remains under the club's control. This failure to act defies the ruling of Gauhati High Court Justice Prasanta Kumar Deka, issued on August 21, 2018, which directed that part of this land be allocated to the museum.

The Dhubri Ladies Club, a society registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860, currently maintains possession of the land, which includes an Assam-type house in deplorable condition. The house, believed to be an Armenian Church based on its architectural design, stands as a remnant of the area's historical fabric.

According to Bijoy Kumar Sharma, Secretary of the Heritage Conservation Society of Assam, Dhubri Chapter, the High Court's verdict clearly stated that 1 Katha 10 lechas of land was allotted in favor of Dhubri District Museum by the District Level Land Advisory Board and the same will not disturb the possession and enjoyment of the Ladies Club concerning the land under its possession and the said proposal was approved on February 20, 2010. 

The said proposal which was approved by the Sub-Divisional Land Advisory Committee (SDLC) with an intent to give effect to it vide a letter dated August 09, 2010, the Additional Deputy Commissioner, directed the Circle Officer of Dhubri to make necessary arrangements to handover the possession of the said land to the authority of the District Museum, at the earliest.

In the meantime, despite these clear directives, the Dhubri Ladies Club filed a case in the Gauhati High Court, leading to a decision to provide the vacant land to the museum without causing loss or damage to the existing clubhouse.

Almost six years have passed since the High Court's verdict, yet the district administration has failed to transfer the land. Sharma questions whether political involvement or pressure is preventing the administration from fulfilling its obligation.

Residents demand immediate action from the district administration to allocate the land to the Dhubri District Museum. They argue that preserving the historical, cultural, and local heritage of Dhubri is crucial and that the land will facilitate the establishment of a full-fledged research center for historical and cultural events in the district.