Journal of Information and Computational Science ISSN: 1548-7741

Dolls and toys of west Tripura: a general observation in the context of folk art practices

Pipasa Das1 Department of visual Arts, research scholar, Tripura central University, Suryamaninagar, 799022,

ABSTRACT Tripura is a third smallest territory in north eastern region of India has a rich heritage for its diverse cultural connotations as well as for practicing various folk art forms. The region is blessed with the sufficient rainfall, intense forest and mineral ingredients. Agriculture and handicrafts of weaving textile, bamboo basketry, practicing folk art of wood carving and clay or terracotta modeling etc are the main sources of rural economic development. Like other folk art forms practicing dolls and toys is also an important age old tradition of Tripura involved with the socio-religious and ritual life of the rural people of Tripura as well as its connection with the development of their community, economy and livelihood. Moreover it is connected with other multiple aspects since time immemorial. The present study aims to preserve this traditional folk art form through the documentation of the artifacts as well as the study will highlights the significant characteristic features about the specimens depicted by rural artisans in an artistic manner. Through the creation of these artistic forms it reveals the socio-cultural diversity of the state. Specimens are miniature form of the natural things commonly represents traditional customs and cultural activities of the particular communities. In Tripura this tradition developed by the Bengali speaking community who religiously influenced by the Hinduism. There are three artisans have been selected for the study inhabitants of western plain valley located in neighbor city Agartala, capital of the state of Tripura who has been practicing dolls and toys with the use of three different ancient materials. The usage of these materials and their techniques applied to producing artifacts will be discussed respectively in this paper.

Key words: Artisan, Artifacts, culture, Dolls and toys, practice, Tradition

1. INTRODUCTION Tripura is a wealthy territory of northeast India for its artistic development of age old tradition as well as diverse cultural inheritance. Tripura is still a developing territory of northeast India. The state is blessed with the ultimate natural ingredients, subtropical climate and rainforest influences and it is also enriched by the human resources. Nowadays it is observed in many parts of this territory some cottage industries have developed in rural areas which has been running by the village folk of Tripura. The present research involved with the rural art form practices in the field of making folk dolls and toys. The tradition of making dolls and toys is age old but it is quite difficult to state about the historical root of this tradition as there are no such references of historical textual records have yet been

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found in this regarding. Though some existing evidences of hieratic art have been found in many historical sites but there is no information particular in this context of traditional folk art. Like other parts of India Tripura has a rich heritage of making traditional dolls and toys since ancient times. Traditional dolls and toys are basically made of ancient materials like clay, terracotta, wood and clothes etc and applied traditional technological methods to produce such artifacts. Among all of these mediums cloth is considered as a new medium of art and it is comparatively easy to make than other mediums. Nowadays introduced with other numerous new materials like synthetic cotton, fabric, jute, plastic etc which are easily available in the local markets with low cost and commonly used by the contemporary rural artisans. Artifacts made of such materials are always fascinated by the all age group of children‟s as their favorite playing things as well as they‟re always been fascinated by the adults also due to their attractive and delightful nature. Folk artisans are belonging to Bengali schedule casts communities influenced by the Hindu religion. They produce a variety of living and nonliving things associated with the local and regional fairs and festivals. In the present study there are three contemporary artisans has been chosen from west Tripura district who are practicing art of making folk dolls and toys with the use of three different materials like clay, wood and cotton. The way specimens are constructed express artisan‟s aesthetical consciousness which can easily catch anybodies eyes due to their attractive appearances. Artisans are playing a remarkable role in the society to develop the rural economy as well as to keep this tradition continues for generation to generation for the sake of holding traditional values and historical antiquity. In Tripura the tradition of making folk dolls and toys have been developed by the rural artisans belong to Bengali speaking community who are influenced by the Hindu religion. Here in this study three folk artisans have been chosen who are resident of different geographical areas in the western plain valley (administrative district of west Tripura) located in the neighbor city Agartala the capital of Tripura. As for instance Ramnanagar is located in the north-western part of the city agartala about 2 Km away from the central part of Agartala another is Belabor village located at Dukli block towards south-east approximately 4-5 km from the city and Amtali village is 10 km away towards south from the capital of the state Tripura. 2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The present study is mainly based on the primary data sources as there are no sufficient existing literary works are available in this context. To develop the paper data was mostly collected from the primary sources. For instance, I conducted many field visits to several places mostly in the selective villages and cities under the study. I visited to many local, regional, national and international fairs and festivals to collect the specimens or artifacts as well as to understand the present market values. Through organizing meetings and close observations with the artisans which was must need for gathering information‟s to develop the study. Moreover, I used to hold multiple interviews with many resource persons which is helped me to discover proper information‟s about and helped to examine the facts through interactions and direct conversation and discussion with the artisans is very useful and effective method to establish the any truth about something. There is no sufficient amount of literary data available particularly in this regarding with special reference to Tripura. Therefore I had to gather information‟s through investigation.

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3. OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH WORK . To understand the current market value of the traditional artifacts of west Tripura district. . To understand the artisans view and their expectations from the people they deal with. . To documentation artifacts produced by the local artisans for the sake of next generation. . To understand the conventional and unconventional material practice in the art form of doll making. . To understand the present situation of the artisans of the particular areas have been selected for the study. . To understand the demand of consumers in giving preferences on different materials for buying artifacts. . To understand consumers awareness on choosing safety toys . To understand peoples role/responsibility to/ awareness in the preservation of specimens and their traditional values. . To understand the artisans contribution to rural economic and community development. . To understand artisans or consumers responsibility in providing respects to the conventional properties and providing role to continuing the process of historical elements through generation to generation. . To acquiring knowledge about the material culture and traditional technological aspects of practicing dolls and toys. 4. RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS 4.1 Clay dolls found from Belabor village in west Tripura district In Tripura or other states of India the art of clay modeling and terracotta is the very foremost medium after stone to express ideas for the artisans in every phase of civilizations since Indic culture. Except idol making the number of traditional practitioners in this field is very limited in Tripura in present. In this paper selected an artisan who practicing hand modeled clay figures and articles in traditional ways named Jiban Rudra Pal resident of the village of Belabor, 4 KM towards south from the capital Agartala in west Tripura districts. He is belonging to potter community. Making clay articles or dolls and toys was his traditional family occupation but nowadays it became optional source of income and now he is rather known as a fruit retailer. He works on clay occasionally, months before when the fairs and festivals occur. To make such clay dolls and toys artisan follows the traditional technological methods which had been following by the ancient artisans to produced playing objects, mother goddess or other utensils used in their daily life. He use to produced various varieties of secular items like piggy bank, dolls, playing utensils, animal and birds forms like elephant, horse, peacock etc are most common. Every item he has been producing is mould made. Mould is used to make articles are also made of clay. He made abstract form of human figurines (fig 1) are remarkable. They are replica of the past civilization of antiquity. Reference can be made with the specimens of the archaic human figure or mother goddess found from Indus valley civilization. Figurines are conveying some archaic characteristic features in their appearances. They are abstract form of human figure or mother goddess, example/replica of the past civilization of antiquity. To produce these artifacts other member of his family also involved with this work. For the work total workforce distributed to different age group people in the family members. They use natural ingredients and traditional techniques to make the artifacts will be mentioned below. After completed the finishing touches with the beautiful decorations and bright colors products

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are finally ready for sale in many local, regional fairs and festivals. According to artisan Jiban rudra pal it is mentioned that the future in not bright for the clay or terracotta tradition as consumer‟s choice has became changed due to mass production of industrial toys which are available in local or urban market nowadays. Therefore the demand of the local artifacts has been declining day by day with the introduction of modern toys. People of these days paying less interest to buy artifacts made with material cultures. As a result the tradition of terracotta art will vanished very soon. But he is struggling hard to continue their art alive. 1.1.1 Ingredients used to make terracotta dolls: Clay, jute, sand, water, hay, brick dust, husk etc raw materials are used to produce terracotta dolls and toys. 1.1.2 Sources of raw materials: To produce terracotta articles ingredients are obtained from natural sources. The main sources of clay are river, pond, lake, paddy field etc. Most often artisans preferred to use alluvial soil as a manipulated material for its sticky fine grain earth. It can be easily molded when it is wet. Most alluvial deposits or fertile soils are found in the plain valley, have been collected from the paddy field and river side. And Jute is produced from the plants. It is used with the soft earth while preparing the clay to make the core stiff. 1.1.3 Steps of making terracotta articles: Terracotta is fried clay. Specimens produced by the artisan Jiban Rudra Pal all are found mould made. It‟s a long process of multi steps to be followed step by step. Following are the important steps commonly followed by the artisans to produce terracotta articles such as refining, preparing clay, molding, finishing and decoration, sun drying, firing, coloring. 1.1.4 Images of the specimens found from this village:

Fig 1 Abstract form of human figurines, Fig 2. Peacock both are depicted by the contemporary artisan Jiban Rudra Pal, specimens collected from Hapania regional fair 2018 4.2 Wooden dolls found from Amtali village in west Tripura district Amtali is a village situated in west Tripura district approximately 9-10 km away from the capital of Agartala city where the artisan Mr. Nani Gopal Das isdwelling. The exact location of the area is 1 km towards south from Amtali market next to the Amtali H.S School. Transportation system is well to communicate with his residence. Mr. Das is

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a resident of this village from his childhood. He started working as a carpenter at the age of 25 later his passion of making dolls and toys turned into a profession or prime occupation since then he has been practicing doll making for last 35 years. He is an only self taught artisan in this entire village and his son Dilip Kumar Das also provide assistance to producing artifacts at the final stage. His interest on choosing material is remaining same as he used before. He has chosen wood as a suitable medium to express his skillful knowledge of carving figurines as he desire. In Tripura use of wood in making dolls and toys is a very popular and an age old medium often used by many artisans in many regions in this territory. Among all of the artisans practicing wooden dolls and toys in Tripura Mr. Das is extraordinary. The specimens depicted by him are highly appreciated for his aesthetical sense. Some of his subject matter is human figures like lady with vessel, form of the birds and fishes, penguin, wall hangings moreover various variety of home décor etc are available with the various variety of shapes and sizes. Among of these specimens most commonly use to produce is the „lady with vessel‟ (fig4) and penguin (fig5) in different sizes and patterns. Use of bright colors, application of flat paint, conclusive use of motifs and design, simple form and minimal use of carvings these are some significant characteristics features of the dolls and toys depicted by him. In the specimens figure number (fig4) image given below, Japanese influence of kosekhi doll is visible in this pattern of dolls besides some similarities can be found with the native specimens of toys from and of Andra Pradesh. Apart from this common similarities can also be observed in the local specimens in their physical features those are exhibiting in the following images given below. For instance application of the paint on the surface of both of figurines, both of them depicted with same colors like chrome yellow, vermilion, white and use of black with bold linearity. No uses of color dimensions. Both are static and standing in a vertical position. There is no use of arm and leg can be seen in both figurines these are the most common significant characteristics features of the dolls found from these specimens. According to the artisan Nani Gupal Das it is said that the popularity of wooden dolls were highly appraised till past few years. Now its demand is also remarkable but not as before. It is indeed truth that the people of modern generations of Tripura paid less interest on the folk traditional artifacts than any other territories‟ people of India comparatively. He expressed that if government takes initiative to promote their tradition through providing skill development training he will be benefited more. He also said that the tradition will no longer to be lasting if it does not preserve before it disappear. Nowadays he couldn‟t able to deliver sufficient products to his clients for the lack of productivity. He could not provide sufficient workforce at work as well as artisan himself unable to provide sufficient effort to produce mass production of artifacts due to his infirmity and age old problems. After his demise there is no one left in his family to adopt this tradition as professionally as a result the position he earned will be vanished very soon admittedly. It is greatly saddened for those individuals who really enthusiastic as well as strong adherent about the traditional values. 1.1.1 Types of wood used to make wooden dolls: Varieties of trees are available in Tripura for making wooden dolls and toys like Mango, shimul, gambar, gamai, sagun, sal, siris, , kathal, jarul, arjun, tamarind, palm etc. According to the artisans perspective Sagun or

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(scientific name is tectona grandis) is the most suitable for wood carvings and outdoor furniture‟s. Though it is much expensive than other valuable timber, most often used by the rural artisans also to produce wooden articles for its useful benefits as well as its beautiful, smooth and tight grain. It is durable and contains medicinal value which is repellent for insects. 1.1.2 Wood carving tools used to make wooden dolls: Tools are usually used for making toys are two types hand tools and lathe machine. Hand tools are all together called as lathe chisel tools. They are locally known as batali. Different types of hand tools (batali) are available in lathe chisel set like marking knife, spoon carving chisel, easy drill bit chisel, bent gouge wood carving chisel etc and their functions are different at work. Lathe machine is used for shaping wooden pieces or cutting woods and design machine is also used occasionally for engraving designs or depicting various types of motifs on the surface of wooden figures. 1.1.3 Steps of wood carvings:  Wood seasoning  Wood cutting  Wood carving and shaping  Design engraving  Color apply and polishing

1.1.3 Images of the pecimens found from Amtali village:

Fig4. Lady with vessel, Fig 5. Penguin, both are depicted by the same artisan Mr. Nani Gupal Das, both are collected from Amtali village, west Tripura district 4.3 Cotton dolls found from Ramnagar Agartala west Tripura district Cotton is the most common and very soft medium than any other materials used to make dolls and toys. For any artisans it is quite assessable and comparatively easy to give desirable shapes with this material as it is too flexible to bend. The age of this tradition in Tripura is not much longer as other ancient medium like clay, terracotta

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and wood curving. In present days, it has been observed that the demand of cotton doll is increasing highly day by day in Tripura. They are easily available in many fairs and festivals with a large number of sellers or local artisans. Kids are mostly fascinated by the cotton dolls as they are soft. Artisan use medicated clothes for the sake of child welfare and healthy growth through providing safety dolls. Most often cotton dolls are made by the female artisans as they are most familiar with the materials used to make with. Another reason is that females are able to provide a much better look on them as they are having a lot of knowledge about the aesthetical experiences. Few training centers for making dolls and toys have been established in the city of Agartala which has been running by the experience holder skilled artisans. Among all of them Mrs. Chaya Dey is eminent. She is resident of Agartala located at Ramnagar 2 km away towards North-west. She became a most popular and renowned doll maker in Tripura as well as a well known entrepreneur. According to her more than two hundred learners were had been practicing doll making under her guidance. Recently she is providing her knowledge to many new learners who use to come at her place with having enthusiastic about this art. There are no age limitations in this learning system all age group people are welcome at any time to learn and given equally importance to all the workers while training progressing. Her contribution to society on providing her experience with others not merely enhance her reputation but an attempt to make women self independent to build women empowerment to the backward classes which could make an impact in the mind of every individuals who want to provide financial support to their family by earning by their own skills as well as contribute themselves to developing rural economy. She gets positive response and feedback from learners, consumers, government and other non government organizations and general people who appreciated her works and pain striking efforts must provide her mental strength to continue her activity.

1.1.1 Subject matter of work: Her interest on choosing subject matters reveals regional identity which makes her a notable individual. Basically the images produced by her are thematic representation of the indigenous life and activities of Tripura people, Hindu religious iconography, god and goddess, legendary figures, dancers, musicians, cupules and other decorative items are notably admirable. 1.1.2 Use of tools and ingredients used to make cotton dolls: To make cotton dolls need not required to use excessive tools, a very small number of hand tools are used like scissor for cutting paper of clothes, needle is used for hand stitching clothes and hardly usable sewing machine if required, brushes for apply paint on body and depicting expressive facial features like striking eyes & brows, sharp nose and attractive lips etc and following ingredients are essential to produce cotton dolls such as a bundle of cotton to make basic core sometimes string is useful to make armatures. colorful clothes for dressing, glue used as a binder to fix anything, clothes or other materials, thread is used to join limbs with the main structure, multiple use of colors to paint on figures, beads or garland for ornamentation, glitter for glistening or decoration purposes and artificial flowers, yarn, paint pens or sharpies for extra usage.

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1.1.3 Sources of raw materials: To make cotton dolls useful raw materials like cotton, fabrics and dyes are obtained from the natural sources like various types of shrub plants from where cotton and yarn grows, leaf and seeds to produce colors. Sometime used synthetic fabric which is contains chemical substances. Nowadays synthetic materials are using massively by the artisans rather than natural raw materials as it is available in markets with low prices. 1.1.4 Images of the specimens found from Ramnagar, Agartala:

Fig5. Hojagiri dance, indigenous traditional dance form of Tripura, Fig6. Dram player,Fig7. Couple, they are made of cotton, depicted by the same artisans Smt. Chaya Dey from Ramnagar, Agartala, west Tripura district

5. CONCLUUSION The artisans selected for this study all are belonging from west Tripura district has been practicing folk art of making dolls and toys with the use of multiple materials. Individual style and techniques are applied to produce particular artifacts made of different kind materials. The specimens are highlighted in this paper are made by three different kind of ancient materials like clay, wood and clothes. They are noteworthy because of their individual characteristic features and stylistic approaches in their appearances that carrying a distinct identity of the state of Tripura. The practice of making dolls and toys is basically community based tradition. It is materially associated with the form of rural folk art and craft which is commonly practiced by the Bengali sub communities group of people belong to schedule casts like paul, sutradhara, malakar, das many more, exceptional may be identified in some cases in present days. Besides being similar in many cases specimens are unique according to their own way. Though they are materially different we can easily assimilate few common characteristic features in their visual appearances through the close observation to the artifacts which is given in the above images. Following are some of the common characteristic features of the folk dolls and toys have found from this geographical areas have been selected for the study are mentioning here: . Application of paint on the surfaces of the specimens . Bright colors and flat brushing without any dimensions

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. Influence of local flora and fauna in the depiction of motif and designs . Simplicity in form and design Even not only this region, if we notice other folk artifacts found in several territories or historical cultures it is observed in most cases that the specimens are often depicted in same manner by the local artisans for long time. For giving theoretical support to the paper here I am putting some worthy mentions of the author Dr. Sanjay Sen Gupta, he also highlighted the same thing in this regarding in his literary work. According to him “The rural artisans were mainly habituated in doing modeling works on clay (baked or not), with a little knowledge of shallow carving, which they seldom tried on wood and stone. So, they were never skilled enough to carve out the intrinsic and meticulous details of the hieratic iconographies- which were typical to the pal-sen era. As a result, in the new wooden idols, carving became inevitably shallower and flat; apparently close to the contemporary form of a modeled sculpture. Hence none of the available specimens of this epoch bears the splendorous carving details of the earlier period. Apart from this, the rural artisans were always habituated to use paint on their clay-sculptures; and hence they were more comfortable with the use of paint-brushes rather than chisel and mallet. So, for their own convenience- as they couldn‟t match the intricate carvings of the pal-Sen sculptures- paint was introduced for depicting the facial features and other details on the very surface of simplistic carving. However, it is true that the ornaments, the crown and the basic dress-materials were still being carved on the wooden surface, but this time the minute carvings were replaced by the painted designs.”[1] The present study is important not merely for the demonstrating artifacts but also necessary to preserve the age old tradition before it depleted through the documentation of the artifacts of material cultures as it is already going to be die. To promote the rural community and their traditions it is important to know their views and feedbacks through the close observation with the artisans during field visits which helped to understand the current situation of the contemporary rural artisans. The recent work made many scopes and interests for further studies in this field of research. 6. Acknowledgements Present study is a part of the PhD research work of the present author. Thanks giving to all the artisans who shared their knowledge and work experiences during collecting data for the research as well as for providing their valuable time to carry out the study. Without their effort and attention might not be able to fulfill the study properly. REFERENCES Journals: [1] S. Sengupta, Tracing the history of wooden-dolls in Bengal: a study of two specimens from chandraketugarh, journal of Bengal Art, the international centre for studies in Bengal Art, 2017, 171-203 [2] T. Hyland, Craft working and the “Hard Problem” of vocational education and training open Journal of social sciences, 2017, 304-325

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Books: [2] R. Das, Art & Architecture of Tripura Agartala, Tribal Research Institute Government of Tripura, 1997 [3]B.k.Kilikdar, Tripura of eighteenth century with smasher gazi against feudalism (A Historical Study) Agartala,Tripura State Tribal cultural research institute & museum, Govt. of Tripura, 1995 [4] E.F. Sandys, History of Tripura Agartala,Tribal Research and Cultural Institute Govt. of Tripura, 2016 [5] A. Bhattacharya, Folklore of Bengal New Delhi,National Book Trust, India,1978 [6] D.K. Talukdar, Folk Art of Assam Guwahati, Bani Mandir, 2011 [7] A.K. Sur, Folk Life of Bengal Calcutta, Best Books, 1999 [8] Dr. R Bhowmik, Tribal Arts and Crafts of North-East Region of India Guwahati, Supriya Books, 2015 [9] S. Khanna, Dynamic Folk Toys (Indian Toys Based on the Application of Simple Principles of Science and Technology) New Delhi, Indian Express, 1987 [10] R.D. Choudhury, Art Heritage of Assam New Delhi, Aryan Books International, 1998 Web sources: [11] https://en.m.wikipedia.org>wiki 30/08/2020 [12] http://fashion.mithilaconnect.com/social/220-6-popular-traditional-toys-in-india, 06/02/2020 [13] https://seemaawasthiblog.wordpress.com, 25/08/2020 [14] https://www.indiatimes.com/culture, 14/09/2020 [15] www.euromonitor.com, 13/09/2020 [16] www.sciencedirect.com, 22/08/2020 [17] https://m.indiamart.com>agartala, 19/08/2020 [18] www.telegraphindia.com, 19/08/2020

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