GUWAHATI: Assam is setting its aspirations high, aiming to position Guwahati and Dibrugarh as the concert capitals of India. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared this visionary goal during the Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit held on February 26, asserting the state’s commitment to developing music tourism through large-scale live events.
“Concert culture will be prioritized in Assam,” said Sarma. He believes this initiative will not only place Assam on the national entertainment stage but also bolster the local economy by attracting international and domestic artists, event organizers, and music enthusiasts.
The summit has already been notable for business, with 268 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed, totaling investment commitments of ₹2.23 lakh crore. This includes 232 MoUs focused on financial investments, with the remaining 36 centered on knowledge-sharing and strategic partnerships. Minister Bimal Bora highlighted the importance of reviewing all agreements thoroughly before any implementation takes place.
Later on the same day, Guwahati was shaken by the tragic news of young woman Saheba Rehman being found dead under mysterious circumstances. The 26-year-old was residing at Riyanshi Apartment on Bishnujyoti Path, Hatigaon. The police are investigating the possibility of suicide, and the body has been sent for post-mortem.
This disturbing incident follows two others within just two months, raising serious safety concerns. Bipulabi Nath, found dead in January, was another alarming case linked to young women living alone. The recent string of incidents has stirred conversations around women's safety and the responsibilities of local authorities to protect citizens.
Meanwhile, as if the community needed more reason to be on edge, the same day as the summit and the discovery of Rehman’s body, Assam experienced yet another natural calamity. At 2:25 AM, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck near Morigaon, sending tremors across the northeastern state and even felt as far as Bangladesh, Bhutan, and China. Initially reported at 5.2 before being adjusted to 4.8, residents of Guwahati awoke to the tremors, some taking to social media to voice their relief at the absence of severe damage.
Seismologists noted the tremors were enough to cause minor incidents, such as items falling from shelves—but thankfully, there were no reports of widespread destruction. The authority is continuing to assess the tremor's impact and has advised residents to be prepared for possible aftershocks.
The juxtaposition of vibrant ambitions for cultural expansion through the concert industry alongside grave concerns about safety and environmental factors paints a complex picture of life currently experienced by residents of Guwahati. While Assam seeks to eliminate its growing pains, the community grapples with coping with both natural disruptions and social challenges.
What remains clear is Assam’s determination to make its mark on the national stage, championing the concert culture even as it must confront the urgent weight of pressing local societal issues. The path forward may be riddled with challenges, but as the chief minister notes, the focus will be on prioritizing development and addressing community needs simultaneously.