As the football World Cup fever grips the globe, a 46-year-old enthusiast from Bhubaneswar has found a distinctive way to preserve the sport's legacy and motivate the younger generation. Samarajan Mohanty, residing in VSS Nagar, has assembled an extensive collection of football-related artifacts at his home. Dubbed Mo Sangrahalaya, or My Museum, his residence is becoming a popular destination for football aficionados.
From Hobby to Museum
Mohanty, a private sector employee, has nurtured his passion for collecting rare and historical items since his school days. What started as a hobby in 2010 has transformed into a mini-museum featuring treasures linked to past football World Cups. His collection spans a wide array of items, including over 500 postal stamps from more than 50 countries, special covers, framed match tickets, badges, coins, currency notes, matchboxes, paper cups, chips wrappers, biographies, and newspaper clippings related to football.
Preserving Discarded Treasures
Many items that most people would discard after use have been carefully preserved and exhibited. The collection boasts postal stamps of legendary footballers such as Pele, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi. "People usually throw away match tickets after attending games. For me, each ticket tells a story. I preserved them so future generations can connect with football history," Mohanty explained.
A major highlight of the collection is the range of football-themed postal stamps and envelopes issued by various countries. Mohanty has sourced many items through friends, relatives, and collectors from across India and abroad.
Inspiring Young Minds
With growing interest during World Cup seasons, his home museum has seen a steady flow of visitors, especially school students. Mohanty has also taken his collection beyond home, setting up displays outside stadiums during local matches. "I started this initiative to encourage children to take an interest in collecting and preserving historical items. It helps them learn beyond textbooks and develop curiosity," he added.
Visitors, particularly youngsters, say the collection offers a refreshing and engaging way to understand the sport's history. "It is amazing to see so many old items related to football in one place," said Ankit Sharma, a student.
