Tucked away in a decrepit lane near Lebutala Park is a shop that has been holding on to a more than 150-year-old tradition that is struggling to stay afloat. Ajit Dutta and India Kite continue to make kites of all shapes, sizes and colours with utmost precision and care.
The passion for kite-flying has long taken a beating and it is only during Vishwakarma Puja and Makar Sankranti that one may spot the tiny specks of colour in the sky or hear cries of Bho katta!
Clear skies and perfect wind patterns lay the pitch for ideal kite-flying and people can be seen on rooftops, especially in north Kolkata, eyes trained on the sky.
Kite-flying was a passion among the “Babus” of Bengal in the early 19th century and this had prompted the growth of several kite-making units all over the city, primarily in the northern fringes, and before long each earned its own repute and patrons began to have their wish-lists for their desired products.
Situated at 2B Santosh Mitra Square, Lebutala Park, India Kite is a confluence of craft and passion.
Passion and inspiration
Ajit Dutta was 17 when he was bowled over by the skills and precision of kite-makers in the neighbourhood. Soon, he felt the urge to follow his passion and make it his profession too. That was way back in 1966.
Over the years, Ajit gained confidence and attained mastery in his craft. Given his vast experience, he is today considered a kite-master. He is also capable of giving the much-needed “wings” to kites discarded after Vishwakarma Puja. His calibre can even make a fallen kite soar!
Gradually, Ajit’s popularity soared like the kites he made and his skills fetched him several accolades. He has exhibited his skills in kite-making at several tournaments across the country. And today for every election, major sports events (even during the recent FIFA World Cup) and religious festivals, Ajit Dutta is the first choice.
A FIFA World Cup themed-kite at the shop
In 1991, he won several awards at the kite festival in Ahmedabad. The Duttas have also participated and won awards at exhibitions and competitions across the state. Kites made by him were used as “scoreboards” in the much-acclaimed Bengali film Egaro.
Some of the many medals that Ajit Dutta has won in his career as a kite-maker and enthusiast
His famous kites based on the Victoria Memorial Hall and the iconic Charlie Chaplin earned him huge recognition and the one he made on Victoria Memorial Hall is displayed at the Ahmedabad Patang Museum. Awards and medals won by him are displayed at his store.
The craze and skill of the senior Dutta has been inherited by son Saikat. Currently, the father-son duo run their modest store with the support of patrons from across the state.
Ajit Dutta's son, Saikat, has proved to be a worthy successor and now manages the store with his father
Mobile phone menace
Even as he fixes the neatly pieced bamboo sticks to the colourful kites, Saikat rued that business was on the wane, thanks to the advent of smartphones and kids these days were hooked on to e-games.
“However, we are trying our best to keep the trade afloat. There’s demand for the traditional as well as the modern ‘poly’ or plastic kites,” he said.
Once a favourite pastime, kite-flying is a hobby that few nurture these days
“Apart from the cost-escalation, the dearth of skilled craftsmen is a major concern. In the kite industry, we need people with high-precision skills and knowledge and as this trade is declining, getting such people is an uphill task,” he added.
Budget kites for all
Despite the price escalation, there’s a kite for every customer at the Duttas’ unit. The prices range from Rs 2 to Rs 45 per piece.
For wholesale buyers, 100 kites of general quality may be available at around Rs 120. For a 1,000-metre string, the price ranges between Rs 150 and Rs 250, while a latai (string-holder) with a string length of 3,000 metres may cost anything between Rs 250 and Rs 12,000.
Workers make string-holders or 'latai'
It is interesting to note that in India, kite-makers make cross-country purchases to keep their businesses thriving. If the paper comes from Bengaluru, the strings are obtained from Uttar Pradesh while the wood for the cross pieces come in from Assam!
Latais or string-holders are mostly made in Kolkata, however, special ones are procured from New Delhi and Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh. The Bikaneri latai is also in high demand.
The choicest ones
Speaking on the most sought-after kites, Saikat said, “There is always demand for ‘Shareshatash’, ‘Majuli or Showasteen’ kites. However, the ‘Addah ghuri’ is always the best-seller. This particular variety is engineered to fly in all sorts of wind conditions and has high levels of control.
For the environment and avian-friendly Duttas, the Chinese manja is a “Big No”. They don’t bother if they lose out on customers for this, but are committed to their cause and thus promote the cotton or sada suto and mom suto variety.
The Nawab connect
Erstwhile Calcutta’s obsession with kites apparently started way back in 1856 when the last Nawab of Awadh, Wajid Ali Shah, was exiled to the banks of Hooghly and he finally settled in Metiabruz. Apart from kites, the Nawab also brought with him his other obsessions like wrestling and poetry meets.
Legend goes that tired of being beaten by rival kite-fliers, the Nawab apparently wanted his kite strings to be coated with diamond dust!