Old cars to get new home here

Guwahati, July 2: 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 the coming generations 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 brakeless model.

However, collecting these rare items has not been easy for Mr Deka. He had to face not only financial constraints but also lack of initiative on part of the owners of these antique items. He regrets that most owners of these items charge him a hefty amount though they never spent a penny for its maintenance. He said, ''They wake up to the value only when I go to them. But they refuse to part with it even when I assure them that these items will be for public display and bear their names as owners.'' ''Of course, among these people, there are some who happily hand over their possessions after being convinced of my intentions,'' he adds.

A junior engineer in the state electricity board, Mr Deka is heavily into debts due to this hobby. His wife Bornali has been a source of support in tough times.

''I have a wonderful wife who supports me totally and never complains on being left to her own for most part of our married life,'' Mr Deka said.

Even their seven-year-old daughter Diya is enthusiastic about her father's collection.

Regarding his project for a museum, Mr Deka informed that he has proposed an abandoned leather factory near Jorabat on the Guwahati-Shillong road as its site. The compound, with about 17 bighas of land and a pond, is owned by the Assam Industrial Development Corporation.

He said, ''I had talked to minister Pradyut Bordoloi about it and he had shown much interest. I will submit the project papers within a few days.'' With the state government announcing that buildings on banks of the Brahmaputra in the city would be preserved as heritage buildings, Mr Deka said he would also include those sites as other possible venues for setting up his museum.

He said, ''A prime location in Guwahati will be very helpful and I will press for it.'' With the proposed name of 'Treasured Wheels : North East Heritage Foundation', the museum will house a research centre and training centre. It would also have sections devoted to photographs, clocks and watches, gramophones, radios and voice recorders and various other items.

Mr Deka said, ''I have the National Flag before Independence, a piano of the 1890's and various other items. I wish to make my museum a display front for all these and any other item anyone wishes to donate.'' A strong believer in God, Mr Deka hoped that if all progressed well, his museum would be ready in a year. He said, ''If the government allots any of the buildings on banks of the Brahmaputra, the museum will be open within a year.'' With collection worth over Rs 3 crore, Mr Deka may not be a rich man in the conventional sense. But the satisfaction he derives from pursing his hobby for a noble cause, makes him a blissful one.

UNI