Bhubaneswar: A 5-kg pipe lock and key, an intricate betelnut cracker, a ‘mudgar’ used by ‘paikas’, an array of tribal ornaments, lamps used by both kings and commoners, bowls (locally called ‘pakhala bela’) in 32 designs are among the over 4,500 pieces of ‘kansa’ or bronze, brass and copper items passionately collected and curated by retired banker Sudarshan Sahoo in the last 36 years.

The artefacts dating back to 100 to 300 years throw light on the Odia way of life, but sadly many are now lost to humanity.
Sahoo, an agriculture scientist by education and banker by profession, collected these from 60 villages across Odisha, two in West Bengal and innumerable hamlets that have been home to many artisans. His love affair with crafts started from childhood because his father Gopinath Sahoo was a master craftsman of ‘kansa thali’ (‘kansa’ is an alloy of copper and tin). “In 1988, my father gifted me a few pieces of ‘kansa’ utensils and asked me to preserve those. Thus, started my journey,” said Sahoo, now aged 71.
The artefacts have been arranged in 27 galleries in a museum on the ground floor of his house named after his father, Gopinath Sahoo — Gopinath Heritage Museum of Brass and Bell Metal Crats and Neglected Arts, Bhubaneswar. Each item gives a peek into the lives of Odias, from serving food to storing betel or ‘pan’, from weapons to ornaments, from jewellery boxes to puja items pointing to the fact that these items were an integral part of Odia life.
“The workshop of artisans shut down in the late 60s due to difficulties in procuring raw materials. Also, the price of the finished products was far higher than stainless steel,” said Sahoo, while citing the reasons for crafts vanishing. Besides, it is very difficult to make these items. “The making process involves heating, beating, expanding, shaping and finishing, which is physically demanding,” said Sahoo. In his words, a single piece is an amalgamation of skill and workmanship.
“My wife and children have supported me in this collection. After retirement, looking after the museum and showing visitors around has become my favourite pastime,” said Sahoo. He said luminaries like writer Gita Mehta, former chairman, Odisha Skill Development Authority, Subroto Bagchi and his wife, writer Sushmita Bagchi have visited his museum. He has presented an intricate ‘pakhala’ bowl to President Droupadi Murmu.
Sahoo has given off many items to different museums as space is a constraint at his home. “Now I want a museum or a corporate house to preserve the items I have collected,” said Sahoo, as he feels that’s the best way to preserve the heritage he has collected over the years.