Gauhati University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the family of playwright and songwriter Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwala on Thursday to preserve, document, and digitally archive his original creative works for academic and research purposes.
The agreement was signed between the University’s Department of Communication and Journalism and members of Agarwala’s family.
“Jyotiprasad Agarwala was not only an artist; he reflected the social, cultural, and human concerns of Assam, and preserving his works is both an academic and collective responsibility,” said Nani Gopal Mahanta, Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University, while speaking at the event.
The initiative focuses on safeguarding rare manuscripts, film scripts, correspondence, plays, poems, and other archival material associated with Agarwala.
Many of these documents came to light during research on the film ‘Joymoti’ conducted by Dr Bharati Bharali, Assistant Professor, Department of Communication and Journalism, along with research scholar Sangita Bora.
The collection will be preserved at the Krishnakanta Handique Central Library, under its manuscript conservation section.
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Addressing the gathering, Prof Mahanta highlighted that Agarwala’s contributions to cinema, literature, and theatre offered valuable insight into Assam’s social and cultural history.
He noted that the MoU would ensure systematic preservation, documentation, and digitisation of these materials, making them accessible to researchers, students, and the wider public in the years ahead.
The project, titled ‘Preservation and Documentation of the Original Works of Jyotiprasad Agarwala’, will place all archived material under the care of the library’s manuscript preservation unit, following established conservation practices.
Digital versions of the documents will be created in a phased manner to support research and teaching.
Dr Bharati Bharali expressed gratitude to the family of Jyoti Prasad Agarwala for having the confidence and faith on the University and allowing to access and document the manuscripts of the Maestro. She added that the agreement reflected the University’s academic responsibility towards cultural heritage and acknowledged the support extended by various individuals, including research scholar Sangita Bora.
Satyashri Das, the daughter of Jyoti Prasad Agarwala and Rup Manta Das thanked the University authorities for taking steps to ensure the long-term preservation and academic use her father’s original works.
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Gyanashree Pathak and other family members of Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, Academic Registrar Prof Rajiv Handique, Librarian of Krishnakanta Handique Library, Dr Prashanta Deka; Head of the Department of Communication and Journalism, Dr. Chandan Kumar Goswami; Prof Ankuran Dutta; Director of the Centre for Performing Arts and Culture, Prof Pranjal Saikia; Officer on Special Duty to the Vice Chancellor, Dr Sanjay Kumar Dutta; Secretary to the Vice Chancellor and Public Relations Officer, Dr Mrinal Jyoti Deka; senior journalist Mrinal Talukdar; along with faculty members and students.
