Rani

I was born in Ranichak. My grandmother named me Rani since I was born in Ranichak. But I am not a Rani [queen], the wife of a king. I come from a poor family. My grandmother brought me up from a very young age. She gave me her breast milk. I grew up sharing whatever foods she had. She used to make clay doll so different kinds, carry them in baskets on her head, and sell them in the nearby villages. When I was about seven I had learned some scroll songs from my father. He then took me home. I would go with him when he went from village to village, showing his scrolls and singing the songs. I would sing with him. Gradually. I learned to paint and sing the scrolls from him.

When I was thirteen, my grandmother died. I was so heartbroken that I cried and was depressed all the time. She had brought me up, so I couldn’t accept her death. After the death, my mother arranged my marriage. I stayed there after our wedding. My marital family was extremely poor and the household was struggling. What could I do then? I used to go to the villages with my father and villagers would give us money and rice like we were begging. Then I started making clay dolls. I would paint them and carry them in a basket on my head to sell them at fairs. I would always take my mother-in-law with me. I knew a number of scroll songs but I couldn’t sing them in public. I was scared to sing them before my in-laws, brother-in-laws, and para-elders. I hesitated to sing in front of them. I would sing them so softly that people were unable to hear me. I had memorized songs in this way. I spoke to my husband. I also told him “your family won’t allow me to sing or display scrolls to people. What do I do here?” And it was also true that women used to face a lot of obstacles then.

Then I came here to Naya and cried to my mother that we couldn’t eat in my husband’s village. My mother said, “we are quite poor also.” She said, “if your husband stays here, why don’t you make some clay dolls, Lakshmi scrolls, etc? Sell them as well as go to the villages and sing the scroll songs. Then both of you could earn a little.” I used to secretly take a couple scrolls. I would put them in a basket of my dad’s and bring them to villages. Many of the people would tell me, “Hello Rani, you’ve grown up. You used to sing scroll songs with your father then. Why don’t you sing a couple now? We would listen to you, pay you, and give you some muri. We’ll even take you home and feed you.” Some time later when this art of scroll painting was about to die, people were singing songs at will. Some people from Calcutta came here. When they came to Naya, most of the old scroll painters were dying. Then a lot of educated researchers started coming here aiming to save this art from. I would sing songs to them and told them that I know many songs. I would say, “I have learned them from my father. I’ll sing them if you permit me.” They asked me to sing and I sang a number of songs. They were very pleased and said I sang well. They said they would like to arrange a seminar in Midnapur. I knew in my heart that I would paint scrolls and sing when he was not home. When I used to go with my father, nobody ever stopped me. Why should I stop now? If I went to the village people would come to know, so he forbid me. I cried a lot. I will not give up painting scrolls or singing even if I’m told to. My husband told me to come home with him. He came and listened to my song and saw my scrolls. He asked me, “If I start a group of women, will you teach them?” I said to him that I had no objection. He could make a group with all the women scroll painters in the area. Many of them know how to sing and paint. They can progress if they join the group, they will be benefited. When the district office went away, I tried to convince the women. They wanted to sing and paint in their innermost hearts but they were scared to admit it. I told them at a meeting, “aren’t you shy when you go to the village?” Now we’re asked what we do in a group. If we sing and show our scroll people will taunt us. I asked them if nobody ever taunted them when they go to the villages, and whether or not they liked it. I also said that they will have to spend their lives begging, they had no choice. If they were to sit at home they would end up receiving charity. I inquired as to whether begging was as respectable. If they painted scrolls and sang, they could earn as well as accrue respect. I spoke thus to the women of my village. Then we created ag roup of 15 in our village. Then they realized how essential it was for women to do such work. I formed a women’s committee with local women, and we told the district office, “Sir, we have formed a women’s committee”. He gave us a cheque for 15,000 Rs and asked me to buy materials for painting scrolls and distribute it among the women. He asked us to begin work.

My husband told me to come home with him. He came and listened to my song and saw my scrolls. He asked me, “If I start a group of women, will you teach them?” I said to him that I had no objection. He could make a group with all the women scroll painters in the area. Many of them know how to sing and paint. They can progress if they join the group, they will be benefited. When the district office went away, I tried to convince the women. They wanted to sing and paint in their innermost hearts but they were scared to admit it. I told them at a meeting, “aren’t you shy when you go to the village?” Now we’re asked what we do in a group. If we sing and show our scroll people will taunt us. I asked them if nobody ever taunted them when they go to the villages, and whether or not they liked it. I also said that they will have to spend their lives begging, they had no choice. If they were to sit at home they would end up receiving charity. I inquired as to whether begging was as respectable. If they painted scrolls and sang, they could earn as well as accrue respect. I spoke thus to the women of my village. Then we created a group of 15 in our village. Then they realized how essential it was for women to do such work. I formed a women’s committee with local women, and we told the district office, “Sir, we have formed a women’s committee”. He gave us a cheque for 15,000 Rs and asked me to buy materials for painting scrolls and distribute it among the women. He asked us to begin work.