Historic Shishu Bhavan building in Odisha’s Cuttack to be preserved as museum!

A historic building on the premises of Shishu Bhavan in Cuttack may soon get a new lease of life as a museum instead of being demolished. The palace-like structure has witnessed several important chapters of Odisha’s history and was once used as the State’s Raj Bhavan. The building has historical links to Mughal, Maratha and British periods. It also witnessed meetings involving Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and several other freedom fighters during the struggle for India’s independence. After independence, the structure continued to be used as Odisha’s Raj Bhavan until 1948. Following the shifting of the Raj Bhavan to Bhubaneswar, the building was converted into Shishu Bhavan. It served for several years as a facility for treating child patients. However, the paediatric wards were later shifted to another location, and medical treatment was discontinued in the old building. The district administration has since considered the structure unsafe and initiated efforts to demolish it. The move has triggered a debate over the preservation of the historic building. Shishu Bhavan authorities have proposed that the dilapidated structure be preserved and converted into a museum. Intellectuals have also demanded immediate repair, suggesting that historical records, old documents and other evidence be displayed there, along with recreational facilities. The building is currently in a neglected condition, with moss on parts of its walls and vegetation growing around it. Cuttack Mayor Subhash Singh has said the structure will not be allowed to be demolished and that efforts will be made to develop it as a colonial museum along with other heritage sites in the city. “If we can provide 846 beds in the G+6 building within Shishu Bhavan campus, then by preserving this building, we can also protect Odisha’s heritage. If we move forward with the concept of a museum, the parents of the children staying here can visit it during their spare time or in the evenings. This will help preserve our heritage,” the facility superintendent, Dr Sunil Agrawal, told OTV when contacted.