The younger generation in Kumartuli is not keen on continuing with the profession even though they might have picked up the art naturally. Most artisans rue that their sons and daughters are not interested in carrying on with the legacy and that the art will die with them. Instead of just lamenting, Mala Pal decided to do something concrete — she started a pathashala where she teaches idol-making.
Pal now trains about 34 students in three batches and hopes that at least some of them will take up idol-making.
“Our children don’t want to take up the profession even when they know the work. Their interests lie elsewhere. This is the story of most of the families here in Kumartuli,” she said.
Idolmaker to inspiration
Mala started sculpting idols at the age of 14, after her father’s death in 1985. She has come a long way since then, making a name for herself and winning several awards.
Mala Pal working on a clay model of a hand. Ritagnik Bhattacharya
Mala Pal has a daughter who is in her final year pursuing bachelor’s degree in commerce. Now in her early 20s, Pal’s daughter is keen on seeking a corporate job and has no interest in following her parents; footsteps. Mala Pal started training a few enthusiastic youngsters a few years ago and gradually others joined in, too. Thus was born Mala Pal’s Pathshala.
“Many young people would keep coming. They often shot videos of me making idols and posted them on YouTube. Soon, there were requests from youngsterswho wanted to learn the art. I had just one thought in mind, if I can teach these children, a few will definitely be the torch-bearers of this traditional art,” Mala said.
Eager students
When My Kolkata dropped in at Mala’s studio, a young boy from Bankura was waiting eagerly for 15 minutes of Mala’s time. In some fifteen minutes, she returns and he approaches her with gleaming eyes.
“Aapnar kacchhe kaaj shikhte chai. Ki bhabe bhorti hote hoye jodi ektu bolen? (I want to learn from you. Can you please tell me how to get admitted?” asked Lokenath Chakraborty, a master’s student from Bankura.
“I have been following Mala ma’am’s videos on YouTube. Although I am a student of geography, I have a keen interest in making clay models. I want to learn it professionally here,” he said.
Like Chakraborty, many enthusiastic youngsters have approached Pal to learn the art of idol-making.
About 34 students are training under Mala in three batches at present. They attend classes once a week — either on Sunday, Saturday or Wednesday. A one-time admission fee is Rs 1,500 per student, while monthly fee is Rs 1,000. From making idols of gods and goddesses to modelling animal figurines, Pal teaches them all. The entire course spans 2 to 2.5 years.
Students of Mala Pal work on different clay models in class. Mala Pal
“I don’t limit them to idol-making. I feel an artist should know everything. From working with clay to painting to making accessories. I also train them to make jewellery for the gods and goddesses,” Mala said.
Mala herself has started making terracotta jewellery that has a huge market among the Bengali community in abroad. “We have just started it and the response has been good. The students are also eager to learn more in this area. This brings a good prospect for business overseas where the pricing is good and we can earn some profit it.”
Students speak
Snehasish Kar, an undergraduate student living in Dhulagarh, has started making idols for various families in his area. It took only 2.5 years for him to turn a hobby into a serious passion and prospective profession.
“Earlier, I would make my own idol of Durga for my family puja. But my finishing was not good and I decided to learn. My aesthetics have improved since I joined Mala Pal’s classes and my finishing has got better with practice. I have even got two to three orders for Durga idols this year,” Kar said.
Snehasish Kar with Mala Pal. Snehasish Kar
Kar has been a student with Pal since 2020. He would learn the nuances of idol-making during the day and sleep in the little studio at night to save travel time and energy. “I have a problem in my leg, so travelling so far every week would be arduous. Mala ma’am and her husband motivated me. They always said that when there is will, there’s a way. So they allowed me to sleep at the workshop at night and I learnt more efficiently,” he said.
Prajjal Maity was inspired by Mala as he watched her at work on YouTube videos for hours. “I loved to play with clay as a child and making little figurines of animals was something I loved to do. The interest evolved with time and I felt I should learn from a professional. That’s why I started coming to Mala madam,” said Maity, a resident of Bagmari and an undergraduate student in agriculture.
Prajjal Maity’s animal figurines. Prajjal Maity
Maity has now started idol-making, too, under Mala’s guidance. “I have learnt a lot in the classes. Ma’am begins with teaching us hands and different postures. Gradually, she moves onto the other parts. The way she teaches is interesting and you get to see the work take shape in front of you,” Maity said. “This is an incredible art form and I believe we have to preserve this. The onus is on us.”