Prasannalal Choudhury, Atul Chandra Hazarika, Bishnu Prasad Rabha, Phani Sarma, Nipon Goswami, Chetna Das and many others were associated with Ban Theatre and contributed significantly to the growth of theatre movement in the State.
So it is in fitness of things that Ban Theatre has drawn up a colourful programme for celebration of the Birth Centenary of Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha.  The Birth Centenary celebrations of Kalaguru Bishnu Rabha got off to a heart-warming start at the Ban Theatre in Tezpur recently. The day witnessed Bishnu Sangeet Competition while the evening was marked by the first part of the one-act play competition scheduled for the occasion. There was a day long programme of competition consisting of recitation of poems written by Bishnu Rabha. The second part of the one-act play competition also took place on the latter part of the same day. Eminent theatre personalities and creative artistes of the State felicitated at a cultural function cum prize distribution function in the evening of the closing day.
This noble endeavour of Ban Theatre is being supported by Bharti Airtel. Airtel has assured the organisers of their support in the future phases of the Centenary Celebration also.
Speaking to the media, Mr Kartik Hazarika, General Secretary, Ban Theatre said, “It is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain activities relating to theatre and other forms of creative arts for want of money. Bharti Airtel has set a bright example before others by extending support to a programme which not only highlights the rich tradition of Assam but which will also give impetus to young generation of artistes to excel in their performance.”
“Mobile phones provide a strong platform for communication and work as a catalyst for development. The platform for communication also helps in flourishing culture, creative arts, traditional forms of performance and folk music. We in Airtel have supported mobile theatre groups of Assam in a big way and now we are joining up with Ban Theatre to pay our tributes to a great doyen of Assamese art and culture, Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha. We will be delighted if our humble efforts help the young generation to appreciate the valuable cultural treasure of our State which will vanish unless we consciously sustain it,” said Mr Sudipto Chowdhury, Chief Operating Officer, Bharti Airtel NESA while expressing his views on the occasion.
Another active member of Ban Theatre and leading actress  Chetna Das was hopeful that Ban Theatre would be able to set up a School of Drama on the line of NSD in the near future to make Assam a cradle of performing arts and help put the local talent on the national stage. She hoped that corporates would come forward to support this dream.
Bharti Airtel, India’s leading mobile service with a view to pumping in more blood into the mobile theatre industry in Assam, had also tied up with Kahinoor Theatre to support their performances across the State of Assam.