CREATING ‘DEVI DURGA’ IS LOOSING ITS LAND GRADUALLY

Partha Chatterjee

Clay artist Bhanu Pal from Raiganj Kumartuli is worried for the last few years. For the last 40 years, he has developed his world of creative clay idol making especially for religious and other decorative purposes. However, he fears that this will end with him. The younger generation is not at all attracted to these traditional masterpiece creations. Bhanu babu has developed his art by watching his ancestors give life to the lifeless clay pulp to turn those into Devi Maa. He has started his work from the age of 15. From that day 40 long years have passed and he has not noticed at all. He was lost in creating his new world of creativity. His creativity had earned accolades for him. Not only was his creation known within Uttar Dinajpur, his idols reached beyond the district and even the outside the state. Well, of course, things have changed drastically. The raw materials cost is rising like a rocket. The parallel cost of the idols has not risen. The life of the clay artists is gradually deteriorating especially who have not switched profession. The newer generations are feeling the heat and so are not attracted towards this profession. In fact, they have started choosing a different profession. Similar views were shared by Dhruva Pal, son of Bhanu Pal. According to him Bhanu babu i.e. his father has toiled hard and has earned this position. Now this profession has only the love of creativity and nothing else. One cannot make a life by earning from this profession. If at all the social or professional organizations or even the Government don’t take some necessary steps to save this profession, there will be no creativity left with a human touch for the next generation.

Photo: Partha Chatterjee