The silver ingots recovered from the Emar Mutt in Puri have links with the Great Orissa Famine (Na’Anka Durbhiksha) of 1866.

According to historian Anil Dhir, conclusive evidence has been found proving that the bullion was part of the payment made by the British authorities to the various mutts for rice purchased from them.

Speaking at the release of his book “Great Orissa Famine of 1866: Na’Anka Durbhikshya” here on Saturday, Dhir said the mutts were the biggest landowners of the period and had overflowing granaries. When the British administration wanted to buy the stocks, the mutt heads refused payment in coinage and, instead, wanted to be paid in bullion.

While researching for his book, Dhir found various papers proving that the mutts sold a major part of their stocks for the relief kitchens that had been set up by the authorities. While a few mutts and the Jagannath Temple had opened free kitchens, most of their stocks were sold.

Dhir has been writing in vain to the Government for permission to inspect and study the ingots. Each ingot has got proof and assay markings. A proper measurement and weight can reveal their origins and dates. He is now seeking court’s permission to examine the ingots, which are lying in the Police Armory in Puri. The silver recovered from the Emar Mutt should be transformed into the Famine Memorial Commemorative Coins as a fitting tribute to the one million persons who had died in the disaster.

The Christian villages of Adarshpur, Kalyanpur, Ashrayapur, Anugrahapur and Bharasapur in the Pipili area are all living testimonies of the difficult times when the missionaries set up orphanages and shelters for the victims of Na’Anka.

According to the book, the great famine was not an accident of nature nor was it Providence. It was rather a series of mistakes. For many decades after the famine, it was simply a dark and even humiliating experience which the survivors and the survivors of the survivors had little wish to recall. Many aspects of this phenomenon are yet to be uncovered. A proper history of the famine, its aftereffects and lessons learnt should be written.

The contributors of the book comprise eminent scientists, scholars and writers, including Dr Bidyut Mohanty, Dr Manoranjan Mohanty, Dr JK Ray, Dr BC Samal, Amiya Bhusan Tripathy, Dr lalatendu Das Mohapatro, Dr Bimlendu Mohanty, Murali Manohar Sharma, GC Nanda, Dr Prabhakar Nanda, AC Padhiary, Dr Kornel Das and Dr PS Brahamananda.