Old cars to get new home in Asom soon

Guwahati, July 2 (UNI) As the world races to acquire the latest gizmos, Palash Deka toils for old things.

Probably the lone individual collector of antiques in North East, Mr Deka is now mooting the idea to setting up a museum of these items. He has a project report ready and would submit it to the state government within a couple of days.

Says Mr Deka, ''We discard the old for the new, not sparing a second for how useful the same thing had been before the latest was invented. I want to conserve these things for posterity so that they may know how things they take for granted now originated.'' From Swiss-made pocket watches of the 19th century to 'The Statesman's edition of Independence Day, he doesn't lose a chance to add to his collection, which numbers about 200 at present. The vintage cars, bikes and bicycles hold a special place in his collection.

Love for old cars for this young collector dates back to his school days. He said, ''It all started with my fascination for a France-made red Renault of 1948 which my neighbour had. I dreamt of owning it some day and after much search, I located it with a Punjabi person here and bought it from him in 1994.'' His collection includes about 30 cars, some of which are in the final stages of procurement. These cars include the 1933 made convertible Sunbeam of the Queen of Calcutta, the 1945 made Buick used by Bimala Prasad Chaliha and the smallest car in the world, the Austin Mini.

Among three-wheelers, Mr Deka owns a 1934 made Mazda and 1938 made Royal Enfield.

He narrates an interesting story of the Mazda, ''When the original owner of the three-wheeler was once driving it, a bicycle-borne man suddenly came in front of it from round a corner.

Never having seen such a vehicle before, the poor chap fell off the bicycle in fright.'' The vintage car collector has a model of world's first motorbike, a 1904 belt-drive Birmingham made Albion. He also owns the world's smallest bike, 1933 USA made Paratroopers.

Showing his prized possession, Mr Deka explains, ''This bike was folded by unscrewing at the joints and carried by security personnel in their bags while coming down a parachute during the World War.'' His collection includes a 1901 made bicycle which he bought from a person in Majuli in the state, besides a 1933 breakless model.

To make it a perfect finish, he also has a petrol pump of the 30's decade. Says Mr Deka, ''The petrol pump standing in between the cars will lend a more authentic look to all the items.'' MORE UNI SG BA RD 1019