Supported by the Department of MSME&T, Government of West Bengal and

West Bengal Khadi & Village Industries Board

Rural Craft

HubPatachitra

NayaPaschim Medinipur

Chitrataru

Of Rural Craft Hubs Handicrafts of Bengal embody our rich heritage of aesthetics,

creativity and artistry. The craft sector provides low cost, green livelihood opportunities to more than 5.5 lakh men and women. The sector represents economic lifeline of the vulnerable sections of the society, with women accounting for around 50% of the crafts persons and a significant number belonging to the scheduled castes, tribes and religious minorities. In today's globalised world, the growing retail industry, fashion and luxury markets, demand for green production, potential for e-commerce have created new opportunities for developing a vibrant craft economy thereby providing increased income opportunities to the craft communities like the Patuas, potters, weavers, wood carvers, Dokra makers etc. Besides its high potential for employment, the craft sector is economically important from the point of low capital investment, high ratio of value addition, and high potential for export and foreign exchange earnings for the country. The Government of West Bengal thus aims to unleash the potential of the sector in terms of employment, enterprises, export and growth.

The Department of MSME&T, Government of West Bengal in collaboration with UNESCO, New Delhi is developing 10 rural craft hubs in the state. The vision is to develop the villages with families traditionally skilled in craft traditions like Sitalpati, Madurkathi, Terracotta, Patachitra, Dokra, Wooden and Chau masks, Wooden and Clay doll making and Kantha as vibrant craft hubs connected to national and international market.

West Bengal

Jalpaiguri Alipurduar

Patachitra, a unique cultural tradition of Bengal, draws inspiration from the mythological tales of India.

Traditionally, the Patuas paint stories on long scrolls of cloth. Patachitra has drawn the attention and interest of

artists, art connoisseurs and art researchers and has been nationally and internationally acclaimed as a very

interesting style of painting. To some, Patachitra is the precursor of modern day animation. Patuas' repertoire include mythical characters from Hinduism, Islam and even from Christianity. Today, the

Patuas are not only painting and singing on new themes but have also moved into new forays. The changing time

has been deftly captured by the Patuas. Improvising from mythological stories, today the painters depict

incidents like Tsunami or 9/11 in their scrolls. Social themes like gender violence, child marriage have also

found their place in the creations.

Traditionally, the paintings were on mythological stories. The epic scrolls are religious and mythological stories.

They paint on stories based on Manasamangal, Ramayan, Krishna and his love for Radha, on Satyapir or Jesus

Christ. Many other topics like life of tribal people, marriage of fishes and stories of wild animals also find

buoyant expression in their painted frames. Nowadays, Patuas paint scrolls on contemporary social issues

ranging from violence against women to climate change.

S: 12 x 8.8 inchCode: BU017RCH: Naya

Ipad Case Patachitra Ladies Bag S: 13 x 10 inchCode: BU014RCH: Naya

S: 9 x 5 inchCode: BU018RCH: Naya

Patachitra Pencil Bag S: 13 x 10 inchCode: BU047 RCH: Naya

Clutch (coloured fish)

Clutch (brown and white fish)S: 12 x 8.8 inchCode: BU0167RCH: Naya

Clutch (coloured foliage)S: 12 x 8.8 inchCode: BU057RCH: Naya

S: 15 x 11 x 5 inchCode: BU031RCH: Naya

Fish Design Handbag Clutch BagS: 12 x 8.8 inchCode: BU056RCH: Naya

S: 13 x 10 inchCode: BU015RCH: Naya

Peacock Clutch S: 13 x 10 inchCode: BU059 RCH: Naya

Sling big

T-ShirtS: Free sizeCode: AP009RCH: Naya

T-ShirtS: Free sizeCode: AP010RCH: Naya

Painted Men’s KurtaS: Free sizeCode: AK 003RCH: Naya

Saree with Border & Pallu S: 5.5 mtrCode: AK006RCH: Naya

Black & White SareeS: 5.5 mtrCode: SH0012RCH: Naya

S: 11 x 3 InchCode: HD065 RCH: Naya

Painted Bottle

Painted crescent NeckpieceCode: JN 006RCH:

Fish Neckpiece Code: JN 020RCH: Naya

Durga neckpiece Code: JN018RCH: Naya

Painted Wooden Bead String Code: JN029 RCH: Naya

Manasha Painting (single panel) Code: HD175RCH: Naya

Durga Ganesh painting (single panel)Code: HB179RCH: Naya

S: 14.5 x 11 inchCode: HD068 RCH: Naya

Manasha Painting (single panel)S: 28 x 19.5 inch Code: HD0259 RCH: Naya

Ganesh Painting (single panel)

Code: HD070 RCH: Naya

3 Tigers (single panel)S: 28 x 19.5 inchCode: HD0178 RCH: Naya

Radha Krishna (single panel)

Code: HD0273 RCH: Naya

Fish Wedding (single panel)S: 14 x 11 inchCode: HD072 RCH: Naya

Ganesh with Durga (single panel)

S: 22 x 137 inchCode: HD0244 RCH: Naya

Vriksharopan (afforestation)S: 22 x 120 inchCode: HD0245 RCH: Naya

Dashamahabidya

S: 14 x 66 inchCode: HD0246 RCH: Naya

Esop’s FablesS: 22 x120 inchCode: HD0247 RCH: Naya

Dashamahabidya

S: 22 x 137 inchCode: HD0248 RCH: Naya

Fish Wedding

S: 22 x 137 inchCode: HD0249RCH: Naya

Life of Rituparna Ghosh

S: 10 x 22 inchCode: HD0250 RCH: Naya

Tribal Dance (single panel)S: 7.5 x 22 inchCode: HD0251RCH: Naya

Tribal Dance (single panel)

Artists’ContactsMamoni Chitrakar +91 9932170077

Rani Chitrakar +91 9609066351

Rahim Chitrakar +91 9932356176

Rupsana Chitrakar +91 9832592732

Sonali Chitrakar +91 9126144489

Swarna Chitrakar +91 9732799107

Yakub Chitrakar +91 9733952127

Anwar Chitrakar +91 9733700769

Bahadur Chitrakar (President) +91 9734536388

Dukhushyam Chitrakar +91 9933542873

Gurupada Chitrakar +91 9679479557

Jaba Chitrakar +91 8509477383

Khadu Chitrakar +91 9733521594

Manu Chitrakar +91 9732731776

Montu Chitrakar (Secretary) +91 9733521335

P.O. & Village: NayaP.S: Pingla

District: Pashchim Medinipur, Pin: 721140

Phone no: + 91 9733521335 e-mail: rch.patachitra.pingla@gmail.com

Chitrataru