The Odisha government has decided to restore Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore's historical residence in Puri and convert it into a museum, the Minister for Odia Language, Literature and Culture, Suryavanshi Suraj, confirmed on Wednesday.
Minister Suraj announced the decision following a high-level review meeting, stating: "It has been decided to restore Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore's residence 'Pather Puri' in Puri and convert it into a museum in his memory." The seaside house was previously used as a boys' hostel for students of Samanta Chandra Sekhar (SCS) College before being abandoned.
According to historian Anil Dhir, coordinator for the Odisha chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), the land was allotted to Tagore in 1939, and the family later donated the palatial building to the state. Dhir noted that the building was saved from demolition after INTACH raised the issue with former Chief Ministers Mamata Banerjee and Naveen Patnaik, although the boundary wall was subsequently removed for road widening.
It is widely believed that Tagore stayed in the building and composed famous works there, including 'Pravasi,' 'Janmadin,' 'Epare Opare,' and a portion of his celebrated Gitanjali. The building, which is currently dilapidated and suffered extensive damage in Cyclone Fani (2019), is now under consultation with INTACH for its conservation.
The high-level meeting also resolved to establish a "Theme Pavilion" dedicated to eminent writers of Odia literature and their works at the upcoming Cuttack Bali Yatra, which begins on November 5th. It has been learnt that Indonesia will be invited as a partner country this year, and a major Indian state will also be invited as a partner under the 'Ek Bharat Sreshtha Bharat' initiative.
Furthermore, decisions were taken to provide financial assistance to Gajalakshmi Puja pandals in Kendrapara district and to fill all vacant posts in cultural institutions such as the Culture University, Utkal Music College, and other related colleges. The State Archaeology Department will take over the responsibility of restoring the Kalidas Temple in Kendrapara district, and the state-owned Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation (OBCC) has been directed to expedite the construction of the Odia Ashmita Bhavan in Bhubaneswar.
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