Guwahati, May 11 — As Assam prepares for the swearing-in of Himanta Biswa Sarma as chief minister for a second consecutive term, a noted craftsman family is racing to finish the ceremony’s main stage at the Veterinary College Field in Khanapara, the venue where Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers and chief ministers from 22 states are expected to attend on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
The stage is being built under the supervision of veteran artist and Padma Shri awardee Nuruddin Ahmed, assisted by his sons Raj Ahmed and Deep Ahmed. The family was tasked with the crucial job amid large-scale, multi-agency arrangements for the high-profile oath-taking event.
Deep Ahmed said the team began construction on May 9, 2026, leaving little time to complete the elaborate setup before the ceremony on May 12. “We started work the day before yesterday and it is a challenge for us as there is not much time in hand with the ceremony scheduled for tomorrow,” he said.
Despite the tight deadline and intermittent bad weather, the builders report substantial progress: roughly 70% of the work is complete, Deep added, though adverse conditions have complicated the schedule. “We have very little time left. Adverse weather had also added to our worries, though the situation appears better today,” he said.
Artistically, the Ahmeds have sought to blend national symbolism with local identity. The main platform incorporates elements evoking the Indian Parliament, while the flanking stages are intended to showcase indigenous Assamese culture and the architectural essence of satras, reflecting Assam’s festivals, traditions and lifestyle, Deep said.
Padma Shri awardee Nuruddin Ahmed continues to oversee the project despite other commitments, offering modifications and guidance as his sons carry out the day-to-day construction. “Father is monitoring the entire work and is also occupied with a few other commitments. He suggests modifications and corrections, while my elder brother and I are working full-time on the project,” Deep said.
Widely acknowledged as a pioneer of modern Assamese stagecraft, Nuruddin’s work has long been associated with the state’s mobile theatre movement. Alongside Raj and Deep, he recently contributed large-scale murals and sculptures to the Batadrava Than Cultural Project, drawing on Assam’s Vaishnavite heritage and the teachings of Srimanta Sankardev.
Their Batadrava Than works included depictions from the Bhagavata and Kirtan, Dashavatar sculptures, representations of Gayan Bayan traditions and artistic recreations of satra culture. Nuruddin, who has spent more than five decades in visual art and stage design, was named a Padma Shri on January 25, 2026.
“We are hopeful that people will like the stage this time,” Deep said, as the final hours of preparation draw near.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/assam/padma-shri-artist-sons-infuse-assamese-culture-into-nda-swearing-in-stage-1611516
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Publish Date: 2026-05-11 18:25:00
