Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS) organised a chapter of its popular series, Curatorial Talk Show, where Assistant Keeper of Sangrahalaya, Sudipa Roy commenced her lecture on ‘Patachitra: A Traditional Narrative Scroll Painting of West Bengal’ with singing a song on ‘Nirbhaya’ composed by scroll painters of West Bengal.
Roy began explaining the socio-economic condition of scroll painters by reciting a poem written by renowned folklorist and writer, Gurusaday Dutt. The poem describes the scroll painters have been working for social reforms through their paintings yet they are considered amongst the most backward classes of the society. Commonly known as ‘Patuas’ these painters maintain an equal harmony in both the religions Hinduism and Islam.
These scroll painters have Hindu names, follow Islamic customs and paint & narrate stories of Hindu god-goddesses, they call themselves both Hindu and Muslim. The scroll painters have been mention in various purans like Bramhabibharat and epics. Chankya developed a spy network using scroll painters as spies and they passed on encrypted messages.
later, Roy gave detailed information about scroll painters of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal. The scroll painters are one of the most eco friendly community, they prepare their brushes with animal hair and colours through vegetables, flowers and other natural sources. The scroll paintings of West Bengal are mainly of three types – Choukor Patt (Square Scroll), latai Patt (Horizontal Scroll) and Jora Patt (Vertical Scroll).
In scroll paintings, both the story painting and narrative song are the integral part. Hence all the scroll painters are good lyricist and singer. The scroll paintings are based on various subjects like General, Mythological, Historical, Religious, Tribal, Political, Social, Natural Calamities and Fairy Tales. They spread awareness in all these subjects through the paintings and the songs.