Graphic novels give a push to Bengal’s dying folk arts Three books were published in Bengali and English in 2018 Shiv Sahay Singh Kolkata Pintu, a teenager from Mur- shidabad, is in awe to hear the history of Raibenshe, a folk martial dance from south Bengal, from Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, while Tito, a boy from Kolkata, is surprised to learn that be- hind the Chhau masks are real people dancing. These children are the characters from graphic no- vels brought out by the West Bengal government, the UN- ESCO and Banglanatk.com, to promote traditional crafts of the State. In a unique in- itiative, three such graphic novels have been published on three different art forms of the State, both in Bengali and English in 2018. The graphic story on the Purulia’s famous Chhau dance is called Experiencing Chhau (Dekhe Elam Chhau) while the book on Rai- benshe is called Raibenshe Rocks (Ajo Aache Rai- benshe). The third publica- tion is on the little known puppetry from Nadia titled The tale of a lost leg ( Hara- no Payer Kissa). Engaging young readers “These graphic novels are Art forms: (Clockwise from top) A page from the graphic novel part of our efforts to pro- on Raibenshe; an inside view from the book on Chhau; a mote cultural industries in compilation of covers of various publications. * BANGLANATK.COM different parts of the State under the project Rural minds so that they become Ranjan Sen, author of these Crafts & Cultural Hubs, aware about folk tradition of publications said. which is supported by De- the State. These graphic novels are partment of Micro Small and “These graphic stories or being distributed to children Medium Enterprises and short novels, whatever you through school outreach UNESCO,” said Ananya Bhat- call them, are not more than programmes, fairs and tacharya, director of Bangla- 50 pages and are designed festivals. natak.com, a social enter- with lots of colourful sketch- There are plans to publish prise working with artisans es to engage young readers. more novels and a book on across different States of the While the characters are fic- Baul singers is in the offing. country. tional, it has been our effort Mr. Bhattacharya said that Ms. Bhattacharya said to pack as much information under the initiative, work is that the idea behind the pu- about the folk art forms as underway on 15 different blication is to engage young possible in these stories,” crafts of the State..