Village Kali Puja

Known for his realistic paintings, this work by Prahlad Karmakar depicts a Kali Puja scene in a village, probably in rural Bengal. It shows a nocturnal gathering of villagers in front of the deity’s idol, as they sit around in devotion and worship. The makeshift pandal has been lit up by electrical lights, possibly brought in specially for the occasion. The image is a quintessential depiction of festivities in rural Bengal of the time. Prominent in the flat, linear depiction of Kali is her radiating, golden halo. The 1930s in Bengal witnessed peasant movements against excessive rent payments, and in 1938, the Bengal Tenancy (Amendment) Act was introduced allowing the ryot (peasant) to transfer his occupancy holdings. The irresolution of ownership and tenancy rights were to fester and lead to the Tebhaga uprising of 1946. The mood of community worship and solidarity of 1930s Bengal is reflected in Karmakar’s work.