Page 291 - Kolaj Sharodiya Review Edition

Kumortuli

Moinak Dutta

One of the most talked about spots of the city of Kolkata and often visited by
tourists and photographers is ‘Kumortuli’ as it is so called because of the residences
of clay image/idol makers who are based here.
Situated in ward number nine of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, between Ahiritola and
Shovabazar, by the banks of river Hooghly, this place accommodated potters and clay
idol makers after the British East India Company decided to create separate districts for
‘the company’s workmen’ as can be found in the orders of John Zephaniah Holwell who
succeeded Robert Clive as the Governor of Bengal. In accordance with those orders,
different ‘districts’ were formed like ‘collotollah’ ( quarters for oilmen), ‘chuttarpara’
(quarters for carpenters), ‘ahiritollah’ ( quarters for cowherd), ‘kumortolly’ (quarters for
potters and clay idol makers), etc.
From then on till date , many families of potters and clay idol makers , have not only
been living here, but also keeping their profession of making idols and pottery items alive.
A visit to this place around this time of the year would be a fascinating one for any art
lover or photographer.