Clay Images of West BengalCalcutta Notes 2nd October 1980 a.m.Kumartuli. Pradip has a plasterwork in the corner of his studio. It is an imitation of the wooden image he was telling me about in this village. It has 4 arms (sword, shield). P told me that lions were imported into India. The ghora simgha bites the asura's right elbow. The image is known as Bisalaksmi. Bangla eyes but not on Prodip's. Flowing hair, girdle plus dangly waist bib. Kinkinis (I think) and long flowing sari. 4 acommpanying but not in Prodip's. P says he has seen the Bangla style faces in the old temple sculptures of Orissa. pm-met Rupa Mehta. She told me to go to Chitrabani. she thought the Bangla style face came from the mongoloid faces of Assam. Is there a connection between image which aren't to be immersed and the fact that these images were kept (permanently?) in shrines. But then, Biskarma is immersed here but not in Assam as is Manasa. Also went again to Kalighat. Asked about the bangla eyes and was told that there is a stotra in Chandi which talks of 'chokktana' (pulled back eyes) and a topknot like Siva's. Also that Patuapara came first then Kumartuli (see Girishchandra Ghosh) and that the chitrakaras of Midnapore know all the stories behind the deities and patuas. The kumar was placing moulds over a fire to dry them quickly. The moulds were handed down from father to son. The father of Sirish was Rojoni Kunto Chitrakar. 6th October 1980 - Kalighat and Chitrabani 11th October 1980 - Krishnanagar 13th October 1980 - Maniktola and Kumartuli 14th October 1980 - Kalighat and Kumartuli 15th October 1980 - Kumartuli, Kalighat, Bhaskar Chunder's house and Hazra 16th October 1980 - Nimtala Ghat and Datta bari 17th October 1980 - Kumartuli, Dutta house and Banerji house of Nafar Kundu Road 18th October 1980 - Krishnanagar 19th October 1980 - Shibnibash and Krishnanagar rajbari 21st October 1980 - Calcutta, Nafar Kundu Road 22nd October 1980 - Kumartuli and Kalighat 27th October 1980 - Kalighat and Patuapara 29th October 1980 - Asu Datta's house 30th October 1980 - Tarakeswara, Radhanagar, Gopalnagar, Krishnanagar 31st October 1980 - Tarakeshwara and Kolimbar village |