Rare artifacts housed at Chamber of Folklore Department

 While science students are provided with well equipped labs to study and conduct research, students of other disciplines lack such facilities and they have contend with only reading books. So in order to give a practical, hands on experience to students of folklore, Dr M Nanjaiah Hogannur, a native of Chamarajanagar, who has come from rural background has converted his chamber into a ‘cultural’ museum.

Dr M Nanjaiah, HoD, Department of Folklore, University of Mysore has collected more than 300 artifacts and has displayed them in his chamber, some of which so rare they have not been seen by many urban students. Apart from folklore students, department of other students to visit his chamber to have a look of the displayed artifacts.


He has started this collection over the past five years in Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Mandya, Ramanagar. Some of things in his collection include millet powdering grinding stone, wooden vermicelli extractor, earthen pots and kitchen appliances that were used decades ago. There is even a 100 year old cradle, bullock cart wheel, fishing basket, agricultural implements and several others.



This apart, cultural and games related instruments which include, tamboori, dollu, flute, harmonium, nagari, mud play toys, and much more displays related to desi games taks the visitors to remind the childhood.


Nanjaiah encourages students to play desi games, prepare traditional foods and play folklore programmes. He opines by doing this the students can understand what they study in the text books and understand better. He says other departments should also house related artifacts to make students aware of reality. He says his intention is to set up a cultural lab on the lines of Janapadaloka in Ramanagar.


‘Most of the rural artifacts are disappearing in this times of urbanisation, modernisation. Hardly we find artifacts in rural areas. When we look at the artifacts it reminds the life of a pot maker, farmer, bamboo workers, the songs sung by women folk while powdering the millets using the traditional stone, and much more. This helps the students to understand the rich culture, tradition of the country, and gives a picture of village attire,’ adda Nanjaiah. 

Folklore diploma student Pramila Joshai said: ‘The exhibits helps us to know the culture and life style of our older generation. In these modern times it's hard to imagine how they were living. Most of the artifacts displayed are based on our syllabus. The mini museum shows our culture, tradition.’


‘If we visit our HoD chambers we wont find computers, electronic gadgets. He has made use of the entire chamber to house the artifacts. This museum shows us the actual reality where we feel we are entering a village when we stepin the chamber. We had never seen few of the artificats being displayed here. Soon we enter the chamber we can feel the essence of rural life,’ said Nanjamma, another students.


‘Their syllabus covers subjects on folk songs, folk rituals, agricultural rituals amongst several others. The museum helps to know the folk and village culture,’ adds researcher MN Dinesh.


Department of Folklore was opened in 1974. There are 23 students enrolled for Master's Degree (MA) in the first year, along with 30 students pursuing Doctorate and 20 Diploma students. The students have won state level award in folk art dance competition.