Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee | 19.9.21
Kumartuli
A small locality in North Kolkata which was originally known as
Coomartolly is a unique potter’s quarter in the northern part of the city of
joy. The place is famous for its expertise with sculpting Indian Gods and
Goddesses out of clay for different religious festivals in Bengal and its
neighboring states. The idols are also exported to other countries.
Kumartuli has a long history that begins with the establishment of
Calcutta (now Kolkata) city. After the Battle of
Plassey in 1757, the East India Company decided to build a new settlement of
Fort William. This made the population shift towards Sutanati, while
neighbourhoods of Jorasanko and its surroundings became the rich locality.
Under the direct orders of the company different parts of the city were
allocated for different workmen.
The
places acquired work related names such as Suriparah for the wine sellers,
Collotollah for the oil sellers, Chuttarparah for the carpenters Aheeritollah
for the cow herders and Coomartolly for the potter’s quarters.
When
the city developed and grew, people from these places shifted to other locaties
and people from other professions settled. Thus these areas bore the names
without having the persons of the profession after which the places were named.
However, the artisans of Coomartolly survived in large numbers. These potters
who used to make pots soon started making idols of gods and goddesses.
At present around 150 families live here and earning a living by sculpting idols for the various festivals. In normal times, before Durga puja there would be thousands artisans working to complete the idols. Corona Pandemic has negatively impacted the Puja revelry and reduced the scale of activity.
My son Amit, who teaches architecture, went to Kumartuli recently to
document the process of idol making and to take some photographs.
For persons who would like to like a guided tour to Kumartuli, Kolkata
tourism department conducts such trip.
Photo: Amit Chatterjee
Malgudi Days
In an
innovative move by the Indian Railways, a station in Karnataka’s Shivamogga
namely, Arasalu railway station is set to be renamed as ‘Malgudi’ after the
1990s Hindi series “Malgudi Days”. The station will be recreated by art
director John Devaraj on a request from the Indian Railways.
Malgudi
is a fictional town in South India, introduced by R. K. Narayan (1906-2001) in
his first novel ‘Swami and Friends’ in 1935. Malgudi remained the backdrop of
many of his novels and short stories. Gradually it entrenched itself in the
mind space of the readers of Narayan’s works. However, it became more popular
as in 1986 Doordarshan launched a Hindi television serial named Malgudi Days adapted from the writings
of RK Narayan. It was directed by Kannada filmmaker Shankar Nag (Seasons 1-3)
and Kavitha Lankesh (Season 4) and
featured actors like Girish Karnad, Dina Pathak and Arundhati Nag. R. K.
Laxman, the renouned cartoonist who was also the younger brother of R. K.
Narayan drew the illustrations. The series became very popular. So did the name
‘Malgudi’. In Karnataka a number of restaurants and hotels sprang with this
name, including one in Mysore- which I used to frequent whenever I happened to
be there.
It is
good that the Railways have thought of creating real ‘Malgudi’ station.
The
renovated railway station premises will feature a museum dedicated to ‘Malgudi
Days’. The same will showcase the pre-independence era steam engines and
elements of Malgudi Days set.
It
will be a tribute to the great writer and also to his younger brother the great
cartoonist R. K. Laxman (1921-2015), whose birth centenary falls on the next
month- October 24.
100 years of Pookkottur
War
Pookkottur is
situated in Malappuram district, the lone Muslim majority district in Kerala.
One hundred years ago on 26 August, 1921 the Mappilas (Muslims of Malabar)
fought against the imperialist British fiercely. Over 700 died in one of the fiercely
fought armed rebellions in the history of the freedom struggle.
British force could crush
the rebellion but they could realize the might of the people. The
British administration feared the revolt would spread to other parts of the
country. Realizing the might and mind of the
Mappilas to fight till death, the British formed the Malabar Special Police to
control them in the same year.
The
centenary of Pookotur War is an occasion to remember the people who fought
against the might of the British army. However,
some historians hold that the rebellion which was waged against the British in
the beginning gradually turned against the Hindus towards the end. This is
again contested by other historians.
Tailpiece: One Minute
On which side of the
locked toilet door are you- that determines the length of one minute.
(With apologies to Albert
Einstein)
+++
Journalist turned
media academician Mrinal Chatterjee lives in Dhenkanal, Odisha. He also writes
fiction and plays.
mrinalchatterjeeiimc@gmail.com
This column is published every Sunday in Sikkim Express and www.prameyanews.com
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