More than 30 theatre groups, playwrights, lyricists, visual artists, and concerned citizens gathered for a protest on Friday outside the closed Rabindra Bhawan in Guwahati, Assam, demanding its immediate reopening. The demonstration, organized by the Cultural Unity Forum, Assam (Sanskritik Aikyamancha, Asom), saw participants wielding placards, chanting slogans, and performing street theatre to draw attention to the profound impact of the auditorium’s closure on the cultural community.
Rabindra Bhawan, a key venue for performing arts in Assam, has been shut since early 2022. Local artists expressed that the extended closure has severely disrupted cultural activities, detrimentally affecting smaller theatre groups that depend on the venue for affordable performances. In 2024, the state government unveiled a Rs 111-crore renovation plan for the auditorium. However, artists have claimed there has been little visible progress amid bureaucratic delays and a lack of transparency regarding the project’s execution.
Protesters called for a clear, time-bound plan for reopening the facility, demanding that Rabindra Bhawan be reopened within six months, that there be public disclosure of the renovation’s progress, and that financial support be provided to artists who have lost access to performance venues. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has reportedly instructed officials to look into the issue.
Participants voiced serious concerns about the government’s approach to cultural infrastructure, highlighting that while new projects are being initiated, existing venues like Rabindra Bhawan are being overlooked. Organizers of the protest stated that they would explore other means of protest if the government fails to make specific commitments.
Original Source: https://nenow.in/north-east-news/assam/assam-artists-protest-rabindra-bhawan-closure-in-guwahati-demand-reopening.html
Category: Assam,Northeast News,Top News
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Publish Date: 2025-07-19 10:27:00
