| Popis: |
Social anthropological studies of craft-based communities have documented the relation between ecologies of work, ritual practice, biographies of craftsmen and their communities. Since the late 19th-early 20th century, there have also been attempts to link the artisan to the processes of nation building, upholding him as a catalyst and a beneficiary of rural development. This paper adds to the repertoire, by looking at the organization of work among the Kumbhakars—a caste of idol makers in Kumartuli in Kolkata, West Bengal, and the processes through which tradition is kept alive through their craft. The paper explores the role of caste as a form of capital, the significance of lineage and traditional knowledge, the importance of patronage—corporate and individual, the experimentation and transformation in the craft wrought over time and various negotiations and struggles through which the work of idol making continues in contemporary times. Drawing upon in-depth interviews with members of the Kumbhakar caste, the paper would attempt to elucidate how the notion of heritage and value is constituted through such an engagement in everyday life. |
