Naya Pingla is a small village in Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, globally recognized for its vibrant Patachitra Art tradition. Generations of artists known as Patuas have sustained this ancient folk practice, using natural colors to depict Hindu mythology, tribal folklore, and contemporary social issues on scrolls and pots. Remarkably, most of the village’s artists are practising Muslims, yet their creations bridge communities by preserving Hindu stories through their artwork and storytelling songs called Pater Gaan.

Artists have modernized Patachitra as a tool for community media advocacy, painting scrolls and composing topical songs to spread public health messages during the pandemic and promote social awareness, especially on issues like women’s empowerment and the prevention of dowry, female foeticide, and infanticide. Female artists in Naya have played a leading role in these advocacy efforts.

A recent documentary by my team captured how Patachitra serves as a cultural bridge and platform for inter-religious dialogue, as well as its dynamic role in social change. The artists also engaged with students at Sadhu Ram Chand Murmu University of Jhargram’s Media and Mass Communication Department in a collaborative event. This project was funded by the KAICIID Alumni micro-grant and was highly appreciated across the KAICIID International Fellows Alumni Network in 86 countries.