MAATI CENTRE — Attraction in Assam

MAATI was vibrant and diverse as usual, maintaining (sometime with difficulty) the core values of what Assam means, and how it is a rare example of trying to keep the flag of diversity flying against many forces. In that very context it was by sheer luck that our visit coincided with a sort of festive, pre-christmas fete being held in its small courtyard. When I asked the founder (and mover of MAATI) about it, he simply said: just some young people having fun. Nice. That's how it should be. And ought to be. The difference from my last visit, which was in 2018, I think, was a wider collection of textile from all over the northeast, earlier it was more art centred ( in the traditional sense of the word art). My suggestion would be to keep the price tag on some of the items, for example, the ones by some other agencies, NGOs, should be kept on a check (e.g. each of the Little Naga collection costs 1500/-, if I remember correctly) -- the idea is not to give the impression that it's exclusive and elite, but rather that MAATI is meant as a forum that is inclusive, and it stands for a place not just to visit and procure, but to learn and...

Situated in the heart of ever busy Guwahati city, Maati Centre is an excellent place for some art and cultural retreat. All those beautifully handcrafted pottery, vintage telephone, typewriter, handmade mats etc. provide a peculiar calmness to the soul. The poetry sessions held there(which is hardly seen anywhere else) is one of the major factors that makes Maati stand out as an epitome of cultural standard. Apart from that, they provide space for art exhibitions to artists ranging from amateurs to professionals. In that way, it is uplifting the spirit of the upcoming young artists who find it monetarily difficult to organise an exhibition of their own. Recently, I conducted a two day video shoot for a music video in their space and the hospitality shown by them is worth mentioning. If you are in Guwahati, do visit Maati Centre to find yourself an escape from the materialistic world that...

Maati Centre, Guwahati Overview Located in Uzan Bazaar, Guwahati, Maati Centre is a commendable initiative by a former World Bank employee Pabitra Lama Sarmah and her husband- Rishi Raj Sarmah. Established with the objective to promote the talents and hand crafted works of local artisans from nonprofit organizations like Tihar Jail and Dastakar Ranthambore, the centre has emerged as a wonderful blend of local culture and regional arts.

With the idea to promote handicrafts and heritage, Maati Centre provides a platform to showcase young and independent artists and gives them a broader exposure. The centre protects, documents and maps the oral and folk and tribal arts to restore the long...