Museums & Collections

Prof. N. K. Sahu Museum (Sambalpur University)-A Profile

A museum is a store house of antiquities, which are mute witnesses of history and culture. Orissa is rich in archaeological antiquities. Palmleaf manuscript, temples, inscriptions, coins, pata- paintings and very significant specimens of arts and crafts. But these antiquities which represent the glorious heritage of our country are sometimes destroyed by the vagaries of nature and sometimes they are destroyed by our own man for want of proper education regarding the significance of such antiquities. The Post Graduate epartment of History, Sambalpur University organised its museum in 1970 for collection, preservation and documentation of the invaluable antiquities within a decade it has made considerable progress in the work for which it was started. At present the museum comprises pre-historic tools from different parts of Orissa and Assam excavated potteries and other archaeological objects from Asurgarh (Kalahandi district) and Manamunda (Phulbani district) some nteresting coins and sculptures, copper plate inscriptions ranging from 4th Century A.D. to 19th Century A.D. and a few lithic epigraphs. It has also preserved punch marked coins from Kalahandi district, Puri-Kusana coins from Purusottamapur and Bhilingi, Sarabhapuriya gold coins from Nehena (Kalahandi district), a few gold coins probably issued by the Chedis and the Kusanas, some gold fanams of the imperial Gangas from Sonepur, some gold and silver coins of the medieval period, coins of the British-East India Company and princely states as well as a few terracotta seals. War implements of the 19th Century, brass objects of the same period, musical instruments and other objects of the tribal people and painted portraits are some of the interesting collections of the museum. Such antiquities have been briefly described in the catalogue of the museum, which will serve as a guide book to the scholars.
1 Year of Establishment - 1970
2 Founded by - Prof. N. K. Sahu
3 Objectives of the Museum -
a. Scientific Preservation and display of antiquities representing the History and culture of Orissa, especially of Western Orissa
b. In order to facilitate research on History and Culture of Oissa
c. To provide teaching aid for students of Post Graduate Department of History.
4 Sections of the Museum -
The University Museum comprises galleries on
a. Archaeology.
b. Epigraphy.
c. Numismatics.
d. Icons and Sculpture.
e. Armoury.
f. Art & craft.
g. Portrait.
h. Tribal life.
i. Palm leaf Manuscript.
j. Archival records.
5 Publications -
The Museum has published the following monographs during 1970 – 86
a. New Aspects of History of Orissa, Vol. I, 1972
b. New Aspects of History of Orissa, Vol. II, 1978
c. New Aspects of History of Orissa, Vol. III, 1981
d. New Aspects of History of Orissa, Vol. IV, 1985
e. New Aspects of History of Orissa, Vol. V, 1986
f. Descriptive Catalogue of Palm leaf Manuscript, 1985
g. Descriptive Catalogue of Archival Records, 1985
h. Interim Excavation Report
i. Catalogue of Museum Antiquities
j. Illustrated Palm leaf Bhagavata
6 Personnel -
a. Curator
b. Photographer
c. Gallery Attendant
d. Surveyor Cum Draftsman
e. Archivist
f. Technical Assistant
g. Mender
7 Equipment -
a. Epidiascope
b. Overhead Projector
c. Photographic Unit with Cameras- 35 & 120 and other equipments
d. Cassette Recorder
e. Reprography Machine
f. Balance
g. Blower Machine
h. Equipments for Excavation work