This “song” is based on a prose narrative inBahr-e-Zakhkhār, the Persian biography of Indian saints and mysticsproduced by Wajihuddin Ashraf in 1788-89.The Sufis described in this biography, from which a short excerpt has been selected, not only had…

This “song” is based on a prose narrative inBahr-e-Zakhkhār, the Persian biography of Indian saints and mysticsproduced by Wajihuddin Ashraf in 1788-89.The Sufis described in this biography, from which a short excerpt has been selected, not only had…

This “song” is based on a prose narrative inBahr-e-Zakhkhār, the Persian biography of Indian saints and mysticsproduced by Wajihuddin Ashraf in 1788-89.The Sufis described in this biography, from which a short excerpt has been selected, not only had…

The fourth song is taken from the corpus of lyrics by Ramprasad Sen, a well-known saint and devotee of Goddess Kali, who lived Halisahar, Bengal, during the 18th Century. Ramprasad's devotional songs to Goddess Kali, known as "Ramprasadi", influenced…

Ramprasad was deeply affected by the Bengal Famine of 1769-70 (described in one of our famine tales) and the scarcities that rural Bengal experienced during his life time. The song selected here reflects his empathy with the suffering poor, which is…

The fifth song is a poem by "Kangal Phikirchand" - the pseudonym was adopted by Harinath Majumdar (1833-1896) who made a pioneering contribution to Bengali journalism, particularly in the cause of oppressed peasants of the region, in the 19th…

The fifth song is a poem by "Kangal Phikirchand" - the pseudonym was adopted by Harinath Majumdar (1833-1896) who made a pioneering contribution to Bengali journalism, particularly in the cause of oppressed peasants of the region, in the 19th…

The fifth song is a poem by "Kangal Phikirchand" - the pseudonym was adopted by Harinath Majumdar (1833-1896) who made a pioneering contribution to Bengali journalism, particularly in the cause of oppressed peasants of the region, in the 19th…

This is one of two songs in our collection by Kabir the well-known fifteenth-century "weaver poet", whose works circulated widely and survive in often variant forms in later manuscripts. In his life and subsequent reputation, Kabir was influential…

Thischoukopata (square scroll) was painted by Rupjan Chitrakar, Dukhushyam's grand-daughter and one of the artists from the youngest generation of scroll painters in Naya. Here we see Rupjan focusing on the figure of Kabir in meditation.

Graphic artist Debkumar Mitra makes vivid the dark symbolism of Kabir's poem and its criticism of greed.

This is one of two songs in our collection by Kabir the well-known fifteenth century "weaver poet", whose works circulated widely and survive in often variant forms in later manuscripts. In his life and subsequent reputation, Kabir was influential…

Thischoukapata(square scroll) illustration of the poem by Jahanara Chitrakar, in her characteristic elegant style and use of colour, emphasises the intensity of religious devotion in sparse surroundings.

The graphic artist Sekhar Mukherjee builds on the more satirical edge of Kabir's tone in his interpretation of this song.

This graphic story by Sarbajit Sen tells the tale of Dukhushyam's self-fashioning in the act of writing famine from below.

The choukopata(square scroll) accompanying the poem is painted by Dukhushyam in his inimitable style, perhaps one of few contemporary scroll painters who still insist on the tradition of working directly on paper with colours, without any need for…

Our final song is by our contemporary poet, painter, and singer Dukhyshyam Chitrakar. In this short lyric, Dukhushyam speaks in the blended voice of thepīr, drawing on multiple religious traditions to the point that these are indistinguishable. His…

This is the structure followed by Dukhushyam Chitrakar while composing the poem for the scroll painting. It is based on the research notes, source translations, summaries, and discussions with Ayesha Mukherjee and Sujit Mondal.

This is a Bengali summary of key historical information regarding the 1590s crisis in England. It was created as a basis from which the artists could develop their own narratives. It also incorporates Bengali translations of excerpts from historical…

These are the initial research notes on sources shared with the artists, on the basis of which discussions were begun. For this story, we emphasised literary sources as well as those which reveal mundane practices undertaken by the early modern…

The story of Shekkhopir-deshe Durbhikkho (Famine in Shakespeare-land) is based on academic sources and research which were discussed with the artist Trinankur Banerjee. Trinankur had access to research materials and sources relevant to the story, and…

In this video, artist Trinankur Banerjee demonstrates the development of the graphic narrative, and takes us through his preparatory drawings at an early phase.

These images show the artist's initial planning sketches, created while researching the history of the famine, and his work-in-progress as he developed the storyline, re-imagining the conditions of the 1590s famine in modern scenarios and…

Shekkhopir-deshe Durbhikkho[Famine in Shakespeare-land] is based on academic sources and research which was discussed with the artists. Dukhushyam Chitrakar then composed a poem and set it to music. The painting began with a pencilled outline of the…

While illustrating the story of Shekkhopir-deshe Durbhikkho,the artists faced many challenges when it came to painting the scroll narrative. The early modern English context was entirely unfamiliar to them. Working with the descriptions and some…