Akshaya Kalayatra–2: Poorab Celebrates the Artistic Spirit of Eastern India in Guwahati
Akshaya Kalayatra–2: Poorab illuminated Guwahati’s art scene from November 25 to 29, 2025, at the Don Bosco Institute of Management. Initiated by Hina Bhatt Art Ventures (HBAV), the event stood as a vibrant celebration of the artistic diversity of Eastern India, bringing together artists from Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, and the North Eastern states under a shared creative vision.
Curated by Hina Bhatt, founder of HBAV, the exhibition presented a rich tapestry of styles, media, and perspectives shaped by the artists’ lived experiences and cultural roots. The participating artists included Amitabha Sengupta, Buddhi Thapa, Noni Borpozuari, Raphael Warjri, Vijay Mani Thulung, Tamali Dasgupta, Tapati Bhowmik Majumder, Manash Ranjan Jena, Prabin Kumar Nath, Dadul Chaliha, Golmei Gandumpu, Subash Pujahari, Minakshi Buragohain, Guru Kinkar Dhang, Mintu Deka, Lalhming Mawii, Bipin Bihari Martha, Pramod Boruah, Leena Meher, Paltu Ghosh, Kaushlesh Kumar, Rinki Chakraborty, Subhendu Mishra, Bhaskarjyoti Gogoi, and Jackie Bodo.
More than a conventional exhibition, Akshaya Kalayatra–2: Poorab sought to amplify regional voices on a national platform, offering participating artists renewed visibility and opportunities for interaction with wider audiences and institutions. Among the distinguished contributors were senior artist Amitabha Sengupta of West Bengal and Raphael Warjri of Meghalaya, whose works drew particular attention.
Raphael Warjri presented two evocative artworks inspired by his candid encounter with Guwahati. One reflected the sweeping horizon of the mighty Brahmaputra, juxtaposed with the psychological and cultural reverberations of the recent musical phenomenon associated with legendary exponent Zubeen Garg, titled ‘Dissolve’—not as an act of hero worship, but as a contemplation of societal memory in relation to a force of nature far greater than individual fame. His second work ‘Decadence’ addressed the disturbance of Guwahati’s once-majestic natural landscape, now increasingly marred by unchecked urbanisation, rising skyscrapers, and disorderly constructions that disrupt the city’s visual harmony.
The exhibition culminated on November 29 and was graced by Prof. (Dr.) Hari Prasad Agarwal, Professor and Principal of the Royal School of Architecture and Dean of the Royal School of Design, along with other dignitaries from Assam’s corporate and institutional sectors.
Akshaya Kalayatra–2: Poorab thus emerged as a significant cultural marker—bridging tradition and contemporary narratives while reaffirming the artistic vitality of Eastern India.
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