BHUBANESWAR:A new gallery on 1817 Paika Rebellion was inaugurated in the State Museum on Thursday to mark 200 years of the revolt. While the gallery has a small but interesting collection of arms and other articles used by Paikas, an interesting add to it is a 40-minute light and sound show.
“This gallery is a part of the year-long celebration to commemorate 200 years of Paika revolt. People visiting it will get an idea about various episodes of the rebellion that is considered the first armed rebellion against the British in India,” said Culture Minister Ashok Panda.
An amount of `50 lakh has been spent on the gallery and light and sound show by the State Government.
The department has, however, not yet decided on the modalities of the light and sound show. While the script for the show has been prepared in Odia, the department has not thought of translating it in English and other regional languages for a wider reach. The Minister said a decision will soon be taken to decide if the show will be ticketed or not.
Panda informed that a three-day festival will be held from March 28 at Khurda and Barunei as part of the celebration. Plans are afoot to install a memorial on the rebellion at Barunei hill on the outskirts of the City.
This year, the Centre has made a budgetary allocation for bicentenary celebration of the Paika Rebellion that was led by Buxi Jagabandhu Bidyadhara Mohapatra, said Secretary of Culture Department Manoranjan Panigrahy.
On the other hand, the department has come in for criticism as most of the pictures of places, people and objects related to Paika Rebellion, which are being exhibited at the gallery, are mere flex prints of original photographs. Besides, there are very less exhibits of arms and other objects in the gallery.
Apart from the Paika gallery, the museum entrance has been decorated with two beautiful installations depicting Paika Rebellion, Kalinga War of Ashoka and maritime tradition of the State.
Artist Sishu Shakar Das has created a 20X20 ft Patta Chitra painting of Ushabhilasa based on a story of Sarala Mahabharata.