In this materialistic age, the majority people rush to grab modern things spending huge amounts and their ignorance towards the glorious past can be attributed to their lust for wealth. But in a serpentine lane of nondescript riverside village Ouapada under Bari block in Jajpur district, a man has dedicated his time and money to preserve history by collecting thousands of articles and stamps on the Father of Nation.
Except for a crudely-written nameplate in front of his house, there is nothing else to welcome you. But inside the four rooms of the house, you will find hundreds of newspapers and stamps kept in plasticcover files in several shelves.
Ashok Sahoo (36) emerges from behind a shelf. He has collected hundreds of articles, newspapers and about 400 stamps on Mahatma Gandhi and other countries. The house of Sahoo, a businessman, attracts a lot of curious visitors. He visited many places and contacted several persons to collect the articles and stamps. Local youth leader Biswaranjan Mallick said Sahoo has been spending most of his time collecting newspapers and stamps on Gandhi.
Having started his hobby at the age of 22, he has collected more than 20,000 articles on Gandhi. "I am used to people saying that it must be a boring hobby," says Sahoo. But it is all due to his love and respect for Gandhiji and his ideals, he adds.