Odisha’s rich historical legacy in danger as centuries old heritage face neglect

Odisha's rich historical legacy seems to be in danger as crucial ancient artefacts allegedly face neglect. Several invaluable old Jain sculptures and Buddhist relics have reportedly been allowed to remain in disrepair. Despite being invaluable to both history and culture, they remain unprotected and exposed to degradation.

There is a growing demand for a dedicated museum to protect and preserve these cultural treasures. Despite numerous calls to action, government response remains insufficient, leaving these pieces of history vulnerable.

Amidst the lush forests of the Nandapur region in Koraput, an array of centuries-old Jain sculptures are found neglected and scattered. The Koraput district, a culturally rich location, boasts numerous ancient carved stone sculptures of Jain deities. These artefacts are dispersed across various localities, including the villages of Bhitaragad, Hikimput, Doraguda, Khemunduguda, Tentlipada in Lamataput, and Debgandhana.

These stone sculptures hold significant cultural value. In several villages, tribals have incorporated some of these statues into their local cultural practices, worshipping them as village deities. However, many others remain largely overlooked and unprotected.

“These Jain sculptures have been recovered from various dense forests over the years. However, with no facilities, they are often left neglected. If they are preserved in some museum, people would get a chance to study their rich heritage,” a local, Jagannath Pangi said.

Researcher Rajendra Padhi said, “The ancient sculptures need to be preserved as soon as possible. They are of great part of our culture. So, the government should preserve them all.”

Likewise, concerns have been raised over the neglect of significant Buddhist artefacts in Bhandaripokhari of Bhadrak district. These ancient relics, often retrieved from the Baitarani river over the years, are a testament to the region’s rich cultural past. 

However, these relics remain in a state of abandonment, with the local museum not fulfilling its role in protecting them. Despite being invaluable, these relics are unprotected and exposed to degradation. 

Residents and historians in these regions are calling for swift action to safeguard their heritage. Lack of proper facilities and care can lead these irreplaceable artefacts to decay, robbing future generations of their cultural inheritance.

When contacted, Bhandaripokhari MLA expressed awareness of the issue and stated that discussions are in progress with the culture minister to address the preservation concerns.

“I’m aware of the issue. I will personally meet the culture minister and put forth demands for its preservation before the government,” MLA Sanjib Kumar Mallick said.