A Glimpse of Scroll Narrative Art: Survival of Pata Painters

Abstract

Scroll narrative art is the mirror of the rural culture. Patuas or narrative painters of Bengal narrate scroll from Ramayana, Mahabharata, Mangal Kavyas, Bhagavata, folk and fairy tales, social issues and contemporary issues. Scroll narratives performances teach the audience to follow correct path.  Patuas performance is eulogized by rural folk. They take inspiration from Jatra gaan performances of Bengal. Patuas performance doesn’t match line by line with the mythological epics or regional or contemporary performances performed by Jatra troups like Ram Jatra, Krishna Jatra, Kavigaan, Bhajan, Keertan, or Baul gaan. The Patua song, Pata gaan or scroll narratives performance is well organized with the amalgamation of few folk songs like  Baul, Keertan, Fakiri,Panchali, Kavigaan and Tarjaa songs. The present paper is an attempt to explore the current crisis  faced by this folk artist community of Bengal.