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Colours of Communal Harmony in West Bengal's Pattachitra Art
Colours of Communal Harmony in West Bengal's Pattachitra Art

By Gurvinder Singh

Artists recognise no barriers of caste, creed or colour. And Noya village in West Bengal, made up entirely of Muslim Pattachitra artists, stands testimony to this as its nearly 300 inhabitants continue to tell stories of Hindu Gods and Goddesses through their beautiful cloth-based scroll paintings.

Artists recognise no barriers of caste, creed or colour. And Noya village in West Bengal, made up entirely of Muslim Pattachitra artists, stands testimony to this as its nearly 300 inhabitants continue to tell stories of Hindu Gods and Goddesses through their beautiful cloth-based scroll paintings.

West Bengal: ‘Unless all dues are cleared for eggs and vegetables, there will be no food served’
West Bengal: ‘Unless all dues are cleared for eggs and vegetables, there will be no food served’

By Madhu Sudan Chatterjee

A crisis is brewing at the anganwadi centres across West Bengal where workers have threatened to stop serving meals from today to children, and pregnant and lactating mothers. Why? Details here.

A crisis is brewing at the anganwadi centres across West Bengal where workers have threatened to stop serving meals from today to children, and pregnant and lactating mothers. Why? Details here.

Watermelon cultivation and a women farmers' company script success in Bankura, West Bengal
Watermelon cultivation and a women farmers' company script success in Bankura, West Bengal

By Himadri Das

Traditionally, small and marginal farmers in Bankura district, West Bengal, have cultivated paddy and earned meagre returns. But the introduction of watermelon cultivation in the past two years and the setting up of a farmer producer company have changed their fortunes.

Traditionally, small and marginal farmers in Bankura district, West Bengal, have cultivated paddy and earned meagre returns. But the introduction of watermelon cultivation in the past two years and the setting up of a farmer producer company have changed their fortunes.

The Lonely Pied Piper: Meet the one man left who can play the khal, West Bengal’s famous bamboo flute
The Lonely Pied Piper: Meet the one man left who can play the khal, West Bengal’s famous bamboo flute

By Gurvinder Singh

The traditional khal, a tribal bamboo flute from West Bengal, signifies celebration and pain, and has traditionally been essential to weddings, festivities and funerals in West Bengal’s ancient Rabha culture.

The traditional khal, a tribal bamboo flute from West Bengal, signifies celebration and pain, and has traditionally been essential to weddings, festivities and funerals in West Bengal’s ancient Rabha culture.

पश्चिम बंगाल: सिकुड़ रही है घुरनी की प्रसिद्ध मिट्टी की गुड़िया की दुनिया, गौरवशाली रहा है इतिहास
पश्चिम बंगाल: सिकुड़ रही है घुरनी की प्रसिद्ध मिट्टी की गुड़िया की दुनिया, गौरवशाली रहा है इतिहास

By Gurvinder Singh

अपनी कला और संस्कृति के लिए विख्यात पश्चिम बंगाल में कई ऐसे हुनर हैं जिनका दुनिया लोहा मानती हैं। इन्हीं में से एक है मिट्टी की गुड़िया (मैटिर पुतुल) जो विश्व प्रसिद्ध है, लेकिन अब इन्हें बनाने वाले कारीगरों के सामने आजीविका का संकट है। मांग कम होने से यह कला लुप्त होने की कगार पर है।

अपनी कला और संस्कृति के लिए विख्यात पश्चिम बंगाल में कई ऐसे हुनर हैं जिनका दुनिया लोहा मानती हैं। इन्हीं में से एक है मिट्टी की गुड़िया (मैटिर पुतुल) जो विश्व प्रसिद्ध है, लेकिन अब इन्हें बनाने वाले कारीगरों के सामने आजीविका का संकट है। मांग कम होने से यह कला लुप्त होने की कगार पर है।

पश्चिम बंगाल: तंगहाली से जूझ रहे बुनकर, बुनाई की पारंपरिक कला खत्म होने का सता रहा है डर
पश्चिम बंगाल: तंगहाली से जूझ रहे बुनकर, बुनाई की पारंपरिक कला खत्म होने का सता रहा है डर

By Gurvinder Singh

एक समय शांतिपुर में हथकरघे की आवाज सुनाई देती थी, जिस पर प्रसिद्ध तांत की साड़ियां बुनी जाती थीं, लेकिन एक के बाद एक ये हथकरघे बंद हो रहे हैं। वे बुनकर, जिन्होंने पश्चिम बंगाल चुनाव में वोट दिया था, उन्हें डर हैं कि शांतिपुर में बुनाई की कला उनके साथ ही खत्म हो जाएगी।

एक समय शांतिपुर में हथकरघे की आवाज सुनाई देती थी, जिस पर प्रसिद्ध तांत की साड़ियां बुनी जाती थीं, लेकिन एक के बाद एक ये हथकरघे बंद हो रहे हैं। वे बुनकर, जिन्होंने पश्चिम बंगाल चुनाव में वोट दिया था, उन्हें डर हैं कि शांतिपुर में बुनाई की कला उनके साथ ही खत्म हो जाएगी।

Not many smiles this Durga Puja for the idol makers in West Bengal
Not many smiles this Durga Puja for the idol makers in West Bengal

By Gurvinder Singh

Artisans have been working 17-18 hours every day for the past two-three months to make Durga idols. But, they are worried about low earnings as the cost of the raw materials, such as mud and straw, have shot up. A ground report from Howrah's Prasastha village that has 300 idol makers.

Artisans have been working 17-18 hours every day for the past two-three months to make Durga idols. But, they are worried about low earnings as the cost of the raw materials, such as mud and straw, have shot up. A ground report from Howrah's Prasastha village that has 300 idol makers.

No arrangements for drinking water, nor toilets – Schools in Jhargram, West Bengal, raise a stink
No arrangements for drinking water, nor toilets – Schools in Jhargram, West Bengal, raise a stink

By Gurvinder Singh

After remaining shut for almost two years, primary schools in Jhargram district reopened on February 16. However, the situation of 69 rural schools in Belpahari circle is pitiable as many have neither piped drinking water nor functional toilets. To cook mid-day meals, water has to be fetched from far away, and teachers say that all complaints have fallen on deaf ears. A ground report.

After remaining shut for almost two years, primary schools in Jhargram district reopened on February 16. However, the situation of 69 rural schools in Belpahari circle is pitiable as many have neither piped drinking water nor functional toilets. To cook mid-day meals, water has to be fetched from far away, and teachers say that all complaints have fallen on deaf ears. A ground report.

Agriculture is a sought after vocational course in this village high school in West Bengal
Agriculture is a sought after vocational course in this village high school in West Bengal

By Madhu Sudan Chatterjee

Purandarpur Higher Secondary School in Bankura offers vocational courses to its students who come from economically weaker rural families. Seven of its students have made it to the top 10 merit list of the recent exam held by West Bengal State Council of Technical & Vocational Education and Skill Development.

Purandarpur Higher Secondary School in Bankura offers vocational courses to its students who come from economically weaker rural families. Seven of its students have made it to the top 10 merit list of the recent exam held by West Bengal State Council of Technical & Vocational Education and Skill Development.

Infusing Colour into Bengal’s Fading Patachitra Artform
Infusing Colour into Bengal’s Fading Patachitra Artform

By Gaon Connection

Patachitra artists in Bharatpur village in West Bengal get a fillip as Sanghita Mitra, who quit her job with a software company, is working with them for over a decade to keep Bengal’s ancient artform alive.

Patachitra artists in Bharatpur village in West Bengal get a fillip as Sanghita Mitra, who quit her job with a software company, is working with them for over a decade to keep Bengal’s ancient artform alive.

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