Time to save cultural life from damnation : Odisha’s tribal museum turns virtual

Heralding the beginning of a new era, Odisha State Tribal Museum has taken up the initiative of organising virtual tours for visitors to keep the cultural life dynamic as before even in the face of interminable pandemic. Established in 1952 as the Museum of Tribal Art & Artifacts later rechristened as Odisha State Tribal Museum, it is the most sought after venue for patrons of art and culture as it celebrates the life and cultural activities associated with Odisha’s 62 tribal communities.

The museum serves as no less than a library for visitors, research scholars and art enthusiasts who are engaged in any sort for cultural project as represent the richness of indigenous tribal cultures and multifaceted religion such as system of Dongria Kondhs on labour cooperatives, and the traditional wisdom of Kutia Kondhs on various seemilingy enigmatic practices.

Concerned about the importance of museums and cultural institutions, Akhila Bihari Ota, Director of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute remarks, “Museums have closed down across the country and if the situation persists, they are likely to lose their relevance and become mere warehouses of artefacts. Our aim is to take the museum to people even during the lockdown.”

We have made the best use of technology. One can visit the Facebook and twitter pages @scstrti, @scstdev. On every Sunday visitors can virtually visit the museum. Virtual tour will continue for 14 week, which begins from August 2. We have arranged it in such a manner that viewers can tour the museum on their mobiles from the comfort of their homes,”adds Ota.

In present times as the physical spaces are no longer the priority, the cultural sector is bound to look for innovative ways to curate events, exhibitions and projects which make the experience intriguing and save the cultural life from damnation.

Pic courtesy: Odisha State Tribal Museum Website