In 2017, more than 4000 idols of Goddess Durga were created in 450 narrowly built studios or workshops in Kolkata’s Kumartuli (archaic spelling Coomartolly). Maybe you have visited this cottage industry and have seen half-made clay idols along with the smell of wet earth emanates. Well, this piece of write-up will also help you in knowing how male and female artisans put life into the clay idols.
Kumartuli artists work 10 hours in a day to manufacture beautifully finished clay idols for various festivals held in India as well as outside. Using straw, bamboo, and entel maati, they are putting the popular shapes of god and goddess into the clay idols. Interestingly, the females, the daughters and wives, are not encouraged to join in the trade of god-making. If we count the number of women artisans in Kumartuli, we will not get more than ten. Apart from the festivals held in India, the artisans, mainly male artisans, who churn out clay effigies of the Gods and Goddesses, are exporting the effigies to 90 countries across the globe. But they are not getting enough appreciations in terms of money, respect, or fame. Also, the government is not putting enough effort in bringing up the ideas and ideologies Kumartuli industry. But it is among the to-do responsibilities of the state government. However, the God-Making industry is declining.
The secretary of Kumartuli Mritshilpi Sanskritik Samiti, Ranjit Sarkar, said: “This business needs quite a lot of initial investment. The major part of the capital is obtained from banks, and the majority of our income goes to repay our debts. Laborers and suppliers of raw materials also demand instant cash payment, which leaves us with very little profit. It requires more raw materials and laborers and the cost of this is not accounted for when the Puja committees pay us. The additional cost is our loss. More than ten idols go to waste annually,”Nadia district is known for its contribution to the idol industry. However, the steady flow of clay artisans, laborers and helpers, is declining in the recent years. As per the secretary of Kumartuli Mritshilpi Sanskritik Samiti, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act is helping people to get easier work near their homes. So, the number of skilled and semi-skilled workers is lessening.
