Fifteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

Emerging from the potters’ neighbourhood, Kumartuli in Kolkata, the idol-making flourished as an art in West Bengal. This empirical study is an attempt to understand the loss of intangible cultural heritage faced by the establishment, that dates back to the time after the Battle of Plassey in 1757, when the British forced these artisans out of Gobindapur Village, and eventually settled in Sutanuti, along River Ganga. The name, ‘Kumartuli’ has originated from the local word, ‘kumhar’ that means potters. The unique character of this cultural establishment is the ‘studio-household-neighbourhood’ continuum. Over time, general ignorance and lack of development coupled with seasonality of work and lack of support to the art has caused the art to die a slow death in the narrow streets and tiny art studios of Kumartuli. This community of kumhars is the backbone to the identity of Kolkata – the annual festival of Durga Puja, and thus deserves a stronger sense of motivation for cultural preservation and improvement in the quality of life of the artisans. This study considers the intangibility of the heritage and the dynamics of ‘risk’ associated with the community. It is diverse and needs to be addressed through rehabilitation that conserves both the rural and urban culture and tries to mitigate the issues of dignity and ownership.