Endowed with a rare sense of history, deeply entrenched in paleontological studies and possessed with her natural feminine instinct for collection and preservation of artifacts of historical interests, Jayanti Rath has added new feathers unto the cap of State menagerie by her tireless efforts and profound research. Having had her post-graduation and MPhil studies in History from the Utkal University, she has also been awarded with a PhD degree from the same university. Besides, she has successfully completed the course work on Epigraphy and Numismatics conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India. Although archaeology is her cup of tea, writing is her passion. She has penned many short stories of amazing variety. Her poetry collections include Shalini in 1995, Jibana Patra Mo in 1996, Abimukta in 2003 and Jibanagita in 2012 which are packed with intoxicating imageries propped up by intellectual parallels. She also has a number of essay collections. One of her fascinating novels entitled Jibana Sepakhe Jibana (2009) has been chosen as non-detailed study in Higher Secondary course. She has also made her debut in translating many spiritual works into Odia like Sri Sai-Jignasha O Mimansa and many more works on Sai ecclesiastical literature. Besides, she lends her dexterity and her unique craftsmanship while editing regularly Sai Bani, which is popular among masses. Some of her short stories and poems have been translated into Hindi, English, Malayali, Telugu, Gujarati and Bengali and published in several magazines. A good number of her poetic creations in Odia have been broadcasted in AIR and Doordarshan. A dramatic rendering of her short stories was enacted in TV serials. She was honoured as a jury for award of the Odisha Sahitya Akademi in the stream of novel in 2010 and as a jury for the Central Sahitya Akademi in translation works in 2011; apart from being nominated as a member of the Odisha Sahitya Akademi, 2014-17. Besides being a visiting faculty to the Utkal University of Culture, she attends many national and international conferences on art, archaeology, culture and history of Odisha. She takes delightful interest in adding rare collections of books and magazines to the State Museum library as they form the priceless possession for research meant for posterity. In an interview to The Pioneer, Dr Rath spoke to Sugyan Choudhury at the State Museum in Bhubaneswar.
Would you please provide a history of the Odisha State Museum, which you headIJ
The genesis of the Odisha State Museum goes back to the year 1932 when two notable historians Prof NC Banerjee and Prof Ghanshyam Dash of the Ravenshaw College started collection of archaeology treasures from various places. The small museum was then housed in the premises of the college. In 1938, by a suitable order, the State Government transformed this nucleus into the Provincial Museum of Odisha and appointed a Committee of Management consisting of the Principal, the Head of the Department of History and three other Professors of the college.
Maintaining close contact with the general public and the Archaeological Department of the Government of India and other States, the museum continued to grow. In order to popularise the cultural exhibits of the museum, leaflets printed both in Odia and English were published in the Samaj and the New Odisha and copies of the same were sent to officials and the public to create a sense of awareness about the significance of the museum. Students and the general public started visiting the museum in large numbers. The teachers of the History Department made sustained efforts to explain to them the cultural value of the museum and its exhibits.
Initially, it was only an archaeological museum with collections of sculptures, terracotta, numismatics, copper plates and specimens of fine arts. With the growing interest of the staff and people, the antiquities were reorganised in a systematic manner. Stone sculptures were rearranged in three groups related to their styles such as Gandhara Art, North Indian Art and Odisha Art, and each group was subdivided into Buddhist, Jain and Brahmanical images. Terracotta objects and coins were also organised according to the spots they were found, their age and types.
With the shifting of the State capital from Cuttack to Bhubaneswar in 1947-48, the Provincial Museum was also shifted. Slowly, the collection of antiquities and specimens grew manifold and the necessity of having a special building for the purpose was felt. The foundation-stone of this building was laid on December 29, 1957 by President Dr Rajendra Prasad, Chief Minister Dr HK Mahtab, a noted historian himself, took initiative for making the institution a full-fledged museum. The construction of the building along with an administrative block, an auditorium (Kalamandap) and a guesthouse was completed in 1960, and in the same year the museum was shifted to the new building. The institution was renamed as Odisha State Museum.
What are the plans for expansion of the State MuseumIJ
The museum is going to organise five new galleries, (1) Odisha Through Ages, (2) Human Evolution, (3) Patta Painting, (4) Freedom Fighters’ Gallery and (5) Mining & Geology Gallery. For this, negotiation has been made with the National Council of Science Museums, Kolkata. They will submit the DPR by the end of this year. On the occasion of completion of 200 years of the Paik Rebellion, the 1st independence movement in Odisha, a gallery is being organised in the museum with light-and-sound effect. There is arrangement of sixty seats in the gallery. The event will be displayed shift wise to the visitors. The bravery and fighting spirit of the Odia Paikas led by Buxi Jagabandhu will be reflected. It will also highlight the role of Jai Rajguru, Pindika Bhubalendra, Krutibasa Patasahani and Madhava Chandra Dalabehera, the other great heroes of this movement.
For convenience of senior citizens and differently-abled persons, a ramp has been built in the campus and installation of lifts is in progress. Provision has been made for installation of AC in all the galleries.
Could you enlighten us the research activities and extension programme connected with the rare collection of the museumIJ
Proposals have been given to install fire extinguisher and CC TVs and lightning arrester to strengthen the safety and security system of the museum.
What are the obstacles for the progress of the museumIJ
About 50 per cent of the staffs have been retired, and in the meantime the museum is running short of manpower. It possesses about 50,000 rare and valuable antiquities. For preservation and conservation, we need technical hands.
The higher authorities like the Minister of Culture and the Commissioner-cum-Secretary and the Director of Culture are quite responsive, and under their able guidance constructive steps are being taken to make the museum visitors-friendly. Measures are being taken to beautify the museum garden. Books, periodicals preserved in the Museum library would be digitised. The manuscript section of the museum is rich in its collection. A great number of scholars from different parts of the country and abroad come to the Manuscript library for their research work.