Field Trip to Pingla Patachitra Village |

Naya, a small village of ‘Patuas’ or ‘Chitrakars’, located at Pingla in the West Midnapore district of West Bengal, where the traditional folk art ‘Patachitra’ is surviving by the hands of a few families of folk painters (Patuas) generation by generation. These Patuas/ Chitrakars are involved in this profession through which they are carrying on a clan of a distinct art which focuses on different aspects of Indian culture like mythologies, legends, histories etc. with the vibrant use of natural colours on ‘patta’ or clothes which gives the name ‘Patachitra’ and the folk songs which accompany these paintings. On the other hand, the present day ‘Patuas’ are introducing their art as a part of different social awareness programmes organized by different Government and Non-Government organizations, not only in West Bengal but also in whole India as well as several western Countries. In the current scenario the village Naya and its ‘Patuas’ with their art of painting, songs and music have become a subject of research; different universities and academic institutions of West Bengal as well as several researchers from different parts of the globe are visiting the village regularly to study their art as well as lifestyle.

The English Department of Bhatter College, Dantan organized a Field Trip to Naya, the Patachitra Village of Pingla, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal with the Students of M.A. First Semester on 04.02.2023 to study and document the social cultural discourse of these artists as presented through their art.

Teachers, Conducted the Trip: