Kaberi Das Mahapatra
State Aided College Teacher at P.G Department of English, Bhatter College, Dantan, West Bengal, India and Academic Relations and Research at The Golden Line.
E-mail: kdm92bcd@gmail.com
Dharmendra Sutradhar is an internationally acclaimed Chhau Mask maker from Charida Village, Baghmundi, Jhalda Subdivision of Purulia District, in the State of West Bengal, India. He is a member of Chhau Mukhosh Shilpi Sangha of the Sutradhar Community of Purulia. His father Late Gopal Ch. Sutradhar taught him the artistry of mask making. Along with mask-making, Dharmendra is also a Chhau dance artist. Beside the traditional forms of mask making, he has also introduced several unique styles of mask-making. For example, he has created several religious masks like the Pashupatinath mask and so on, and certain literary masks adapting certain literary works like Rabindranath Tagore’s Tasher Desh. He has participated in many state-level and national-level mask making competitions and received several accolades for his artistry in mask-making. Dharmendra has participated in the Master Training Programme of mask-making, initiated by Indira Gandhi National Cultural Association, New Delhi and Adivasi Lok Kala Ebong Tulsi Sahitya Academy, Madhyapradesh Sanskriti Parishad, organized By The Government Of Madhya Pradesh. He is available at dharmendrasutradhar@gmail.com and contact no. 9679719388 / 9609540853. He now runs a shop called ‘Joy Ho Mukhosh Ghor’ at Purulia.
The Interview
In this interview Dharmendra Sutradhar talks with Kaberi Das Mahapatra.
KDM: Greetings from the team of The Golden Line!
We know that the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Textiles (MSME & T) sector of the Government of West Bengal in collaboration with UNESCO and New Delhi is developing 10 rural craft hubs in the State. Purulia’s ‘Chhau’ is one of them. How do you feel being a Chhau artist yourself? Kindly tell us something about your engagement and early inspiration to become a mask maker?
DS: Thank you, Madam. I really feel privileged to interact with you on this topic.
Yes, I really feel happy being a Chhau artist of Purulia and it was my father, Late Gopal Ch. Sutradhar who inspired me to carry the artistic heritage and taught me the artistry of mask making when I was only 10 years old. He had also introduced me to the iconic Chhau dance group of the Padmashri awardee Gambhir Singh Mura. When I was a little boy I had the privilege of performing a tiny role with him.
KDM: We came to know that the Geographical Indications (GI) has recently enlisted the Chhau mask of Purulia in their registered list. Will you please share with us some details about the origin and the history of Chhau Mask?
DS: Yes, we are very happy regarding this. Talking about the history of Chhau, we have learned that around 150 years back during the rule of king Madan Mohan Sing Deo of Baghmundi, the tradition of the Chhau mask started.
However, another source suggests that our forefathers were actors in amateur theatre groups where the male persons were supposed to dress like female to perform female roles because the female members were not allowed then. Sometimes, the family members and other relatives of the actors enjoyed the performance as audience and to hide their identity the actors began hiding their faces through masks.
KDM: That’s really wonderful. How many people from Charida are now engaged in mask making? Are your family members too engaged in this work?
DS: Yes! There are almost five hundred people who are currently engaged in this mask-making process. However, three or four families do this occasionally as they have switched over to cultivation and farming.
Now, taking about my own family, I would like to point out that mask-making has now become our family business. Almost all the family members of mine (my mother, wife, two daughters) are engaged in this.
KDM: That’s really nice. Now please tell us something about the process of mask making.
DS: The mask-making really has three main steps: Mathamathi (clay making), Colouration and Decoration. Mathamathi is used to rub the thapi (one kind of flat wooden tool) on the face of the mask.
At first we collect loam (a type of clay) from the riverside and then we make a ‘Matir Muha’ and give it a globular shape to portray the primary structure of the face including eye, nose, mouth, ear etc. Then we keep it in indirect sunshine to get dry and spread some charcoal ashes over it. Some papers are dipped into dilute flour gum and attached over the Matir Muha and slightly rubbed with thapi for equal distribution and dried under sun rays. We repeat this process and make 10-15 layers of paper coating.
Now, we make a mixture of fine clay (Poli Mati) on the mask. It is called Kabis Lepon. This is the final shape of the face. Then a piece of cotton cloth is dipped into the liquid kabis or clay and it is stuck on the mask. With the help of wooden thapi and fingers we give the perfect facial expression to the mask. Again it is kept under the sun for a few hours and then the primary clay soil is separated from the back of the mask. On the next day we cut the extra portion of the mask and started colouring with khori mati (white chalk soil). After that we apply the suitable colours for the masks, like yellow for Durga, white for Shiva, green or black for Asur etc.
Previously we used natural colours collected from the leaves, flowers, and pebbles but now we use chemical colours only. We pierce the eyes and make a hole for the Chhau mask dancers. Thin iron rods are used to string the colourful beads, flowers, feathers, and foils for decoration. Decoration is the most important part; it gives attraction fulfillment to the mask. Finally we use varnish for a shiny look.
KDM: How much time is needed for preparing one Chhau mask? What is the cost of a single mask?
DS: The time depends on the size, height and weight of a mask. Generally it takes three days to prepare a single mask completely. The prices of the masks generally range between Rs. 200 to Rs. 25,000 depending upon its size, height and weight. One of the costliest masks that I have made has been worth 25,000.
KDM: In which season your masks become demanding? Would you like to share with us the local festivals where Chhau dance is generally performed?
DS: From November to February, the winter season is a blessing for us. In every Sankranti, Chait Parab or in Shiver Gajon, Tusu Parab, Rasleela, Durga Puja, there is a demand for Chhau masked dance.
KDM: What are the obstacles or difficulties that you face as a mask-artist in the making of your products?
DS: During the monsoon we have to stop our work due to the low sunlight and other associated problems. Talking about the financial difficulties let me add that our income is not constant. It depends on the order that we receive.
KDM: The Covid lockdown is really a big problem for the artists, I suppose. Have you thought of starting your business in the online mood?
DS: Yes ma’am! I have already started selling my products online because of the world wide circulation of the folk items. I have made several little masks that can be purchased by the people for home decor or as gift items.
KDM: What is the current situation of the mask-makers of Purulia, especially in the Covid phrase? I hope you are getting enough support to sustain your artistic lineage.
DS: This Pandemic has left its brutal effects all over the world. The visitors are afraid of visiting our artistic village. That’s why art is in crisis. However, we are getting a bit of financial assistance from the Governments.
KDM: Thanks a lot for this wonderful interaction. We would love to visit Charida, your place to learn practically the process of mask-making.
Stay safe!
DS: It would be an honour. You too take care and stay well.
[Volume 4, Number 1, 2021]