Future looks bleak for Kumortuli artisans as youngsters shy away

Their ancestors were all artisans, but the future scions of the famous Kumortuli artisans seem less interested in following their past generation’s footsteps. With some of them preparing for competitive exams, while others taking up jobs in non-governmental companies, the future generation is venturing as far away from the family business as they can. The future certainly looks bleak for the art of sculpture making.

Apurva Paul, a third generation artisan who has grown up watching his father and grandfather giving various shapes to clay says,” Both my brother and I have grown up watching clay sculptures come to life before our <g data-gr-id="34">eyes</g> but I don’t think our sons and daughters would want to stick to this profession.”

Another artisan who is also in this trade for generations, seemed to be a little more optimistic about the future. “Though my son works in an MNC at Sector 5, he tries to help me with idol making on holidays.”

For generations, the tradition of artisan families has been that all the members of the family will help in idol making, especially around the time of Durga Puja but now the times are changing and with the winds of change, the priorities of the younger generation are also changing. 

Due to the various drawbacks of the profession like no clear source of income, no retirement benefits and a low social status, the children of these sculpture makers are looking for greener pastures elsewhere.

In <g data-gr-id="38">Kumortuli</g> there are at least 350 artisans, the more established among whom make at least 40-50 Durga sculptures a year. Now, due to the advent of nuclear families, the artisans have to turn to associate artisans who help in building the sculptures in time. Nowadays, that too is not an option as more and more people are getting the benefit of primary education and are drifting away from the profession.

The associate artisans mainly come to Kumortuli from different rural parts of Bengal. The main artisans under whom these associates work have to take their responsibilities, like providing them food and shelter among other basic needs. 

The inexperienced associates are around 18- 22 years of age and get around Rs 3000 for their <g data-gr-id="37">work,</g> while <g data-gr-id="36">the more</g> seasoned veterans get paid even more.

Most of the associates migrate to Kumortuli because of the Bengal floods that are prevalent around this time but as education spreads into the remotest corners of the state, the educated youth of the village are slowly shying away from the profession of making sculptures.