Origin of the Wooden Dolls

Natungram is situated in Bardhaman District,4 K.M from Argadwip station. It is a simple rural area with soleful talented artisans.They are just not a simple artists but they are internationally recognized for their art and craft. It is about 1.5 hours drive from Bardhaman or Shantiniketan and it takes 4 hours from kolkata which is not too far from our daily hectic life. We can easily manage some sort of time for visiting this beautiful place for a lifetime experience of knowing artisans and to observe their art. 

Wood carving was started in Natungram near about200 years ago by a group of talented artists of ‘sutradhar’ (wood carver) community. The traditional wood craft of west Bengal have,  for centuries, been the preserve of the ‘Sutradhars’, one of the higher artisan castes of India. The ‘sutradhors’ also traditionally architects. Even today some well-known ‘Sutradhar’ families have handwritten treatises, drawing and diagrams setting out old constructional conventions, proportions and traditional plans, etc, for temples, dwelling, rath, chariots and boats.

The word ‘Sutradhar’ means carpenter and in West Bengal, mainly an area of alluvial plains, the basin of Ganga and its tributaries – these talented craftsmen had few opportunities of working with woods. Though they mostly worked with wood and executed magnificent carving in this medium, serving evidence of their artistry in wood is also scanty.

After Independence, the Government of India organised the All India Handicrafts Board to look after the craftspeople of India. The Late Shambhu Bhaskar ,a folk master –wood-carver of Natungram was encouraged by the Handicraft Board to evolve new items within his folk traditions. A whole group of outstanding items based on Hindu mythology and epics that he created is being reproduced now by the other craftsmen of this village. The Ravana and Durga being produced today sells for more than five hundred rupees.

[ Where to stay in Natungram :  People can easily stay in artisans home in Natungram (500Rs/- per day ) with 2 times meal of delicious Bengali foods. Another way is to stay in hotels or lodge in Katwa which is also not very costly. ]

References:
1. www.google.co.in