Clay Images of West BengalCalcutta Notes 14th September 1980 a.m. Kumartuli went with Prodip to Shobhabazar Rajbari. This is the place where Nabakrishna Deb's father Radha Kanta Deb lived. It is now old and dilapidated, filled with squatters. In the shrine area (to the north?) was a largish room or rather the verandah of the north (?) side of the courtyard. To the left a small shrine room in which was a small Krishna (of black stone) and a small Radha (of brass). Behind them was their bed. To the far right the image was being constructed. It was in the traditional style. The lion was of the Orissan type. The chalchitra was of the bangla type with 2 wooden panels that would be attached later. These are called paskati (side, wood). Radha Kanta Deb (whose bust is in this verandah) came from Orissa. His son, Nabakrishna Deb was alleged to have stolen an image of Sri Sri Gopinathji from Raja Krishnachandra of Nadia. This image is probably in the house directly in front of the old mansion belonging to Radha Kanta Deb. The next house we visited belonged to Omiya Nath Datha (OND) nicknamed Chhatubabu. This pandal was a hallway with a balcony at the far end. To the right (again) the image-not a very large one, was being built by Pradip. The lion was of the Orissan type. The faces were the traditional type. The lion was more like a horse with a very hooked 'beak'. The faces also had this hooked beak type of nose and very slanting eyes. The face is meant to resemble the shape of a pan leaf. The chalchitra here was of the math chownie type. 2 others of this type were under construction in one of Prodip's workshops. Dillip took me down to the Ganges. Under a tree were 2 Manasa or rather naga images of snakes, brightly coloured.  One of the kumars told me that Biskarma puja started in the 17th c! Also that there is a woman kumar, the only one in Kumartuli. All three of her daughters are learning the trade. Her name is Kamala Debi and she is a widow. She had just made a Biskarma image. There is also a shop in Kumartuli which sells terracotta (painted) images from Krishnanagar. I also spoke to the shola makers at a store (Shitala Stores). Most of them came from Bangladesh. 15th September 1980 - Kalighat 16th September 1980 - Kumartuli 19th September 1980 - Ramlal Bazar 20th September 1980 - Kumartuli, Nimtala and Dum Dum para 21st September 1980 - Rajbari and Kalighat 24th September 1980 - Kumartuli 26th September 1980 - Victoria Memorial 27th September 1980 - Kalighat 29th September 1980 - Kalighat 30th September 1980 - Kumartuli and Kalighat |