Brush with SIR lands painters of mythology in vote Kurukshetra

Pingla (West Midnapore): Ballots vanish in SIR. Brushes rise in protest. Scrolls speak before assembly polls. In Bengal's patachitra heart, democracy is being painted frame by frame - each stroke carrying a question, each refrain demanding an answer.

Patachitra artists - custodians of a centuries-old storytelling tradition rooted in Ramayana and Mahabharata - are turning their craft towards a deeply personal theme: denial of their right to vote.




In Naya village of West Midnapore's Pingla block, at least 34 names have been struck off poll rolls following SIR, residents said. Naya has around 300 patachitra artists, most from Muslim families sharing the surname "Chitrakar". More women than men feature among deleted names, residents claimed.

In response, art has turned testimonial. Bahadur Chitrakar has painted eight frames tracing fear and uncertainty. One likens voters' lives to kite strings that could snap anytime. "Elections are like festivals," he said. "This year, sadness has taken over."

Siraj-ud-daulah Chitrakar's scrolls revisit childhood memories - walking to polling booths with parents. "Now they are asked to prove they belong here," he said. "Through art, we show we are Indians."

Those affected include relatives of nationally honoured artists such as Swarno Chitrakar and Anwar Chitrakar. Many had long been registered voters in booth 183 of Sabang assembly constituency.

What was once mythological narrative has shifted sharply. Patachitras (long painted scrolls) and pater gan (songs sung while unfurling them) now recount hearings, documents, and rejection. "It's a matter of concern," said Rahim Chitrakar, treasurer of Chitrataru, a collective of artists. "At least 34 artists have been excluded post-SIR."

Sanuyar Chitrakar, 40, said his name disappeared despite extensive documentation. He linked his credentials to his father, listed in 2002 rolls, and submitted a land deed over 50 years old. "My siblings remain on the list. I don't," he said. Called for a hearing over a "logical discrepancy", he produced required papers. "I even offered my passport. They said it wasn't needed." His name was removed after judicial scrutiny. He has approached a tribunal set up under Supreme Court directions.

His daughter cleared scrutiny. He did not.

Others narrated similar patterns. Anur Chitrakar said her name was missing from a list published Feb 28. Her husband, who submitted his passport, was also excluded. In Bahar Chitrakar's family, among senior artists praised by the President, four names have been deleted.

Seramuddin Chitrakar pointed to irony. A scroll that he painted depicting Ramayana scenes drew praise from PM Narendra Modi. "I don't know why my wife's name was deleted," he said.

Jahanara Chitrakar recounted being the only sibling left out despite identical documentation. "All five of my siblings are on the list. I am not," she said.

In Naya, where art travels by song and story, anger now flows through paint.
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