Tezpur: A collection of vintage cameras belonging to legendary Assam photographer Nalini Kanta Baruah, popularly known as the “Shutter Guru,” has found a new home at Tezpur University, adding an important chapter to the institution’s photographic archive. The cameras were formally donated by Baruah’s son, Madhurjya Baruah, during the inauguration of “Sobi Ghor,” a photo exhibition-cum-competition organised by the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism (MCJ) to mark World Photography Day. The exhibition, held on August 19, featured the theme “Home” and brought together photographs by students and research scholars under three categories—“The Essence of Independence,” “Discovering Home Away from Home” and “Nature.”
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The vintage cameras formed a key part of a curated timeline tracing the evolution of photography from the mechanical era to contemporary digital image-making. Baruah, who established his studio Photo Service in 1957, documented several important moments in Assam’s history, including the Indo-China War. Accepting the collection, MCJ Head Dr Manoj Deori, Associate Professor, thanked the Baruah family and said the cameras represented more than photographic equipment. They carried memories and stories of Assam’s visual history and would be preserved for display and educational purposes. Madhurjya Baruah described his father’s cameras as priceless because of their emotional and historical value. He also appreciated the department’s efforts to encourage young photographers at a time when artificial intelligence is increasingly influencing image creation and manipulation.
Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Amarendra Kumar Das inaugurated the exhibition, while Dean of Students’ Welfare Manabendra Mandal and Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences Professor Chandan Kumar Sharma were also present. The programme included a photo wall dedicated to singer and cultural icon Zubeen Garg, a camera obscura display and an alumni interaction on communication and visual storytelling. The exhibition also announced winners in three categories. Suraj Pratim Senchoua, Keshab Kashyap and Jyotisman Borah secured first positions in “Home Away from Home,” “Essence of Independence” and “Nature,” respectively.
