Guwahati | August 9, 2025 – A government employee in Assam has transformed his 25-year passion for collecting vintage items into a unique private museum that takes visitors back in time.

Deva Kumar Bora, 59, who works with the Assam Transport Department, has spent more than two decades gathering objects from everyday life that are no longer in use. His collection, named “Nostalgia”, now includes artefacts dating back over 300 years.

“Since childhood, it has been my hobby to collect unique items from the past,” Bora told NDTV. “Wherever I went, I searched for something special and brought it home. Over time, it became a strong passion. I feel nostalgic about these objects, so I named the museum ‘Nostalgia.’ It’s the result of 25 years of effort.”

The museum houses a vast range of items — from old radios, black-and-white televisions, typewriters, wristwatches, telephones and cameras to coins, gramophone records, and microscopes. Visitors can also see rare photographs of Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi, vintage matchboxes, and antique batteries.

Among the most prized possessions are centuries-old table clocks and rare timepieces from the 18th and 19th centuries, showcasing the fine craftsmanship of earlier eras. One standout section is dedicated to radios from before the FM age, which were used to tune into international broadcasts like the BBC — a reminder of a time when such devices were the only link to global news.

Bora’s collection became so large that his home could no longer hold it. In 2021, he took a bank loan of ₹60 lakh to create a dedicated museum space and open it to the public. Entry is free, but visitors must book an appointment in advance.

The museum is very much a family effort. Bora’s son, Bornam Bora, plays an active role in managing and curating the exhibits. “My father has no interest in anything else — he doesn’t even spend money on clothes — but he always collects unique items that have disappeared from our daily lives,” Bornam said. “His love for antiques inspires me too, because it connects us to our roots and to the objects our forefathers used.”

Walking through “Nostalgia” is like stepping back in time. The vintage cameras tell stories of black-and-white photography, the typewriters recall the age before computers, and the gramophone records carry melodies from decades past. Each object has its own history, offering visitors a deeper understanding of how life once was.

For Bora, this museum is not just a personal achievement but a way to preserve cultural heritage. “These items are part of our history,” he said. “If we don’t protect them, future generations will never know how things used to be.”

With its rare and well-preserved collection, “Nostalgia” has become a one-of-a-kind treasure in Assam, keeping alive the memories of a world long gone — and sharing them freely with anyone curious enough to step inside.