Sambalpur: Victoria Town Hall in Sambalpur transforms into a museum by Dec
Aside from the electricity wiring, few other works on the building’s surroundings are currently underway.
SAMBALPUR: The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) renovated the century-old Victoria Town Hall in Sambalpur, and by December of this year, it will be turned into a museum that will display the way of life, customs, and culture of western Odisha.
Although the building’s renovation was just finished, the museum is currently sourcing articles. The task of gathering the objects for the imagined museum has been given to INTACH. Deepak Panda, an INTACH member from the Sambalpur Chapter, stated, “The renovation of the Victoria Town Hall building was finished around three months ago.
Apart from the wiring for the electricity, very little else is being done right now to the building’s outside. However, as INTACH had suggested that the government create a museum in the structure, the latter has been instructed to gather items for the same. The materials for the envisioned museum are already being gathered by our team.
Panda further said old Sambalpuri saree designs, traditional loom, ornaments and musical instruments of western Odisha apart from household items and articles used in games of the region which are on the verge of extinction will be showcased at the museum. This apart, recovered old artefacts of the region will be showcased at the facility. A loom has already been procured for the upcoming museum.
“We have urged people to contribute to the museum. If they have any article or piece of history, they can reach out to us. The museum will be handed over to the government by December this year,” he said.
For the heritage building, the kings, zamindars and businessmen had contributed `9,417 way back in 1902,” Panda said.
Victoria Vignette
- Victoria Town Hall foundation laid in 1902
- JB Leven Thorpey had designed the building
- Inaugurated in 1904 by Chief Commissioner of Central
- Province JP Hewety.
- The British government, kings, landlords and businessmen of the region had contributed funds
- The Zilla School, Women’s College and erstwhile Trust Fund College, once operated from the building
