Legacy
Raj Bhavan Assam is situated on a plot of land measuring about 3.37 bighas (0.45 hectare) at a dag number 432. The road that winds up from the gate of Hotel Belle Vue up to the porch of the Raj Bhavan is mentioned in the district land records as dag number 431. The road covers an area of 2.16 bighas(0.29 hectares). The land where the erstwhile Hotel Belle Vue was built has presently been acquired for the construction of an additional Raj Bhavan building during the tenure of Prof. Jagdish Mukhi in the year 2022.
It was on October 19, 1980, that Governor L.P. Singh inaugurated the Raj Bhavan in Guwahati. Construction of the main building (Chilarai Wing-named after the great General and Prime Minister of the Koch Kingdom, whose real name was Sukaladhwaj, who had also conquered most of the Brahmaputra valley.) was yet to be completed. But Singh insisted that at least the residence portion of the building be readied for occupation. And thus, even as the last coating of paint was being applied, Singh moved on October 19, to become the first occupant of the Raj Bhavan in Guwahati. There was, however, no official function or any celebration to mark the occasion. It was rather a quiet 'griha-pravesh' (house warming) because of the President's Rule that was on, as such there was no scope for any political personality to be present on the occasion.
The Chilarai Wing, which comprises of the official residence as well as the office chamber of the Governor, has two parts. One portion is two-storeyed residence of the Governor. The ground floor, in fact, comprises of seven rooms apart from the kitchen. Of the seven rooms, three have distinct names of their own, they being Chakrashila, Orang and Pobitora-all three are important wildlife reserves of the state. While Orang is also a National Park located in Darrang district in northern Assam, Chakrashila in Bongaigaon district is famous for its highly successful golden langur conservation project. Pobitora, on the other hand, is a Wildlife sanctuary in Morigaon district, hardly 30 kms. East of Guwahati, and has a high density of one-horned rhinoceros.
The Chilarai Wing has several rooms that offer comfort and style. The first room, located at the entrance, is a beautiful living room. It has a charming ambience and is decorated tastefully. Moving further back, one will find the sitting room, which is even more spacious and cozy. Both of these rooms are perfect for relaxing or entertaining guests.
The main bedroom is a gorgeous space which is attached to a glass room allowing for plenty of natural light and stunning views of the surrounding area. Between the bedroom and the glass room is a small prayer room, adding a touch of spirituality to the overall atmosphere.
Adjacent to the glass room of the Chilarai wing lies a sprawling lawn, replete with lush greenery that exudes a sense of tranquillity and grandeur. This verdant expanse serves as an exceptional venue for hosting a multitude of events, including the esteemed "At Home" function for Republic Day and Independence Day, International Day of Yoga, and other momentous occasions. Furthermore, the lawn provides a picturesque view of the majestic River Brahmaputra, a sight to behold especially during the enchanting sunset hours.
The first floor of the main residential block of the Chilarai Wing comprises of the two large bedrooms. These two are also named after two National parks of the state-Kaziranga and Manas, both are World Heritage Sites. The Governor's office chamber, adjoining the residential block in the Chilarai Wing, originally used to be small. It was expanded and renovated on May 2003 during the tenure of Lt.Gen (Retd.) S.K.Sinha. But it was his successor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Ajai Singh who was the first to use it soon after he took over on June. 5, 2003. The Governor's office block encompasses several rooms, including the Governor's chamber, which is the largest room, and several other chambers, including those belonging to the ADC, the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, and a few other officers. This block is connected to the main residential building of the Raj Bhavan through a car porch.
The Lachit Wing is one of the landmark infrastructures of Raj Bhavan, having been constructed in the years 2001-02. This impressive four-storied RCC structure features a ground floor that is primarily designated for parking purposes. The initial level of this grand edifice houses the sophisticated Banquet Hall, which was restored from the former Governor's Secretariat and was exquisitely inaugurated by the distinguished then First Lady Smt. Prem Mukhi, on the day of 12th October 2020. The uppermost floor is the abode of the awe-inspiring Durbar Hall, which is accompanied by ample room for a media box, waiting area, and porch. This arrangement serves as an esteemed venue for the solemn occasion of swearing-in ceremonies and other consequential functions. The durbar Hall is a spacious hall, which has a seating capacity of 200. This has an elevated platform on the northern side, which serves as a stage for various official functions including swearing-in ceremonies of Chief Ministers and other Ministers.
In fact, Syeda Anowara Taimur was the first Chief Minister to have been administered Oath of Office and secrecy in the Guwahati Raj Bhavan; that was on December 6, 1980. Since then there have been several occasions when Chief Ministers were sworn in this Raj Bhavan. They are (chronologically): Shri Keshab Chandra Gogoi(January 13, 1981), Shri Hiteswar Saikia twice (February 27, 1983 and June 30, 1991), Shri Bhumidhar Barman (April 22, 1996, due to the sudden demise of Shri Hiteswar Saikia), Shri Prafulla Kumar Mahanta(May 15, 1996), and Shri Tarun Gogoi thrice (May 17, 2001; May 15,2006 and May 18,2011). When Shri Prafulla Kumar Mahanta became Chief Minister for the first time, the swearing in ceremony was held in the Nehru Stadium (December 24, 1985). It was, however, only Chief Minister, Shri Tarun Gogoi who was actually administered the Oath of Office and secrecy in this Durbar Hall, because of the fact that this building came up only in 2001-02. The others were mostly sworn in either in the main living room of the Chilarai Wing, or later in a temporary Durbar Hall constructed on the western side of the Chilarai Wing. This was later demolished to clear space for a new guest house block. Just outside the Lachit Wing is a replica of a stone pillar that has an inscription describing the great victory of Namjani Barphukan-Lachit Barphukan-over the Moghuls in the Battle of Saraighat.
The wall behind the elevated portion of the Durbar Hall has a huge painting of Srimanta Sankardeva, the greatest 16th century saint, social reformer, musician, playwright and artist of Assam. The Hall also has paintings of three other great sons of Assam-Lachit Barphukan, Chilarai and Gopinath Bordoloi.
In the year 2008, during the tenure of the then Hon’ble Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Ajay Singh, a notable development took place in the premises of Raj Bhavan. The Conference Hall and Raj Bhavan Guest House were constructed to offer modern amenities and enhance the experience of guests. The Guest House is a two-storied building, comprising five luxurious guest rooms on the first and second floors, while the Conference Hall is situated on the ground floor. The Hall boasts a seating capacity of over 35 attendees and offers a separate sitting area. Additionally, on the top floor, there is a well-equipped room where the Governor's speeches and messages are recorded. This room also doubles as a virtual meeting space for the Governor to attend important virtual meetings with the Central Government and other significant meetings concerning the state.
On 19th December 2019, a remarkable event took place at the esteemed Raj Bhavan premises - the unveiling of the Governor's Secretariat building, graced by the presence of the Hon’ble Governor, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi. This architectural marvel stands tall as the epicenter of the Governor's administrative duties, adorned with an exquisite digital library on its pinnacle floor, flaunting a plethora of invaluable resources. Alongside this sanctum of knowledge, the office of the Commissioner and Secretary, entrusted with the onus of overseeing the Governor's Secretariat, rests in the uppermost echelon of the building. On the first floor, the offices of the Hon’ble Governor's officials can be found, while the ground floor hosts the staff of the Governor's Secretariat. This commendable endeavour to erect such a grandiose structure was undertaken with the aim of elevating the Raj Bhavan's status as a premier institution in the state, and it has undoubtedly accomplished that goal.
The majestic Raj Bhavan, steeped in grandeur and prestige, boasts of not only its esteemed stature, but also of an entrance to its main office that is adorned with a series of cultural symbols. Amongst these, one can witness the beautiful terracotta art that adorns the walls, depicting the vibrant folk dances of diverse communities of the state. In addition, the prominent dance forms of the region are showcased in a manner befitting their magnificence, enhancing the overall aura of the Raj Bhavan.
(Source: Literature from Raj Bhavan)