Sabarna Sangrahashala

Sabarna Sangrahashala (সাবর্ণ সংগ্রহশালা) in Kolkata is a museum about the Sabarna Roy Choudhury family. It has been developed by The Sabarna Roy Choudhury Paribar Parishad. It was established in 2005 to cater the need of students and research scholars and also to create an awareness about the preservation of historical source materials.

The museum

The Museum exhibits rare articles and historical documents of history. It is located at Barisha in Kolkata. The Institution caters to the needs of researchers doing studies on Kolkata and the Sabarna Roy Choudhury family. This family museum possesses rare documents and articles, including Kabilatipatras dating from the 18th and 19th centuries: an important holding being one which has signature of Kavi Ramprasad Sen dated 1794. Other articles include a huge earthen rice pot dating 1840 with a capacity for 240 kg of grain, a metal hookah dated circa 1878, a metal candle stand dated circa 1795, and grinding wheels dated 1845. The philatelic and numismatic divisions possess rare stamps, First Day Covers and coins.

Also on display is the historic judgement of the Kolkata High Court regarding the Kolkata Birthday Case and the Expert Committee Report on the matter. The Judgement states that Job Charnock was not the founder of Calcutta (Kolkata), nor is 24 August is the city's birthday: Kolkata was an important trade and religious centre before the arrival of Charnock.^[1]

Publications

The Sangrahashala in joint venture with Manna Publications, is engaged in publications. Sabarna Barta is the annual Tabloid published every year during the Durga Pujo which contains yearly round up and highlights on new research works undertaken by the Parishad.

A couple of new research oriented books have been recently published. One is Bangla Chotogalper Achena Mahal (ISBN No 81-87648-58-9), authored by Dr. Sonali Mukhopadhyay (Mukherjee) , a book of essays and the other Quiz Katha (ISBN No 81-87648-57-0), a unique quiz book, by Devarshi Roy Choudhury. Also the new revised and enlarged edition of Bangiya Sabarna Katha/ Kalishetra Kalikatah by Bhabani Roy Choudhury has been published.

Annual exhibition

The museum organises an annual exhibition every year in the month of February based on different themes showcasing exclusive important resources of history. Seminars and open Quiz are also a part of the annual event.

References