A brief History of Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Hall cum Library
 
Until the beginning of 20th century the Arya Natya Samaj was the only public hall of Guwahati. 
 
During the visit of Lord Curzon in 1900 there was a need of such a place to felicitate him. A committee was formed with late Manik Chandra Barooah as the president. Fund for the same was collected by donation and in the initiative of Manik Chandra Barooah, Rai Saheb Bhubam Ram Das, Jagganath Baruah, Commisioner J B Fuller; Curzon Hall and Library was constructed on a plot of land near the old Dak Bunglow at Panbazaar. 
 
Curzon Hall is also the first public Library of Assam.
 
Later on, as Cotton College began to expand authoroties aquired the land along with the hall. 
 
Manik Chandra Barooah located a new plot of land near Dighalipukhiri and a new hall was constructed by the year 1912 where it was shifted from its previous location. The old building now houses the Cotton College Library.
 
Curzon Hall and Library was renamed as Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Hall in 1953 by Assam Chief Minister Bishnu Ram Medhi.
 
In the year 1953 Assam State Library was started in this Hall.
 
Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Hall is a part of the Indian Freedom Movement as well as the Socio Cultural history of Assam. A public reception was held during the visit of Former Assam Chief Commissioner Sir Henry Cotton as the President of Indian National Congress in the year 1914. Rabindranath Tagore was given a bublic reception in 1919 and peoples like P C Roy, Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Jai Prakash Narayan, C R Das and many others had delivered lectures here. During World War II it was used as a military base.
 
Almost all the important public meetings of pre Independence era until late 1960’s was held in this hall and what is most important that outcome of those meetings got a state consensus as well as got the consensus of the Assamese society.
 
This Hall also witnessed the beginning of “Bhasa Andolon” in 1960 including few important agitations of post independence era.
 
The Nabin Chandra Bordoloi hall stands strong as one of the few examples of the ASSAM TYPE structure with 'ekora walls', 'sloping roofs', 'timber frames', 'dormer windows' etc. A magnificient master piece of colonial architectural style and of such indomitable heritage should be conserved in the right way to keep it legacy for the genarations to come. There are a very few buildings left in Guwahati of such magnitude and significance and in no way should it be allowed to be destroyed.
 
But to a great disappointment it has come to our knowledge that the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority has propsed to rebuild this historic structure with a two-storeyed modern building, and at the same time quoting that they will preserve its heritage (The Assam Tribune, 10th June, 2015). This is not possible as both canot be done together. A century old on storied building cannot be replaced by a modern two storied building preserving the heritage. The original building has to be preserved. 
At this point the question definetly arise, what kind of definite plan do the concerned authorities have for this proposal. If it is to be conserved then lot of expert interventions are required who are specialised in the field of conservation. And at the very same time every effort should be made to get the best possible design solution for such an important landmark. Few years from now we dont want to see a RCC framed structure with corrugated roofing sheets in the place of the historic Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Hall.
 
Let there be modernisation.. But let it be in the right way! And this is just an effort to curb the uncontrolled developement of a fast growing city. Never to be forgotten that the identity of any person, any place... or anything, forever lies in its roots!