Abol Tabol @ 100: 300 embroidery works and a collector’s ode to a master’s creation

KOLKATA: A hundred years after it was published, Sukumar Ray’s ‘Abol Tabol’ is being celebrated with gusto across the city since the pujas last year when an entire neighbourhood in Hatibagan had house walls painted with its immortal and funny characters. And now, a rare collection of about 300 “suchichitra” or needlepoint art embroidery works, depicting characters from the famous nonsense rhyme book, are on display at Nehru Children’s Museum.

The creator of these artworks is believed to be an unidentified Bengali homemaker from the mid-20th century, who would knit those at home. The works were collected by 89-year-old Parimal Ray over almost a decade. Ray, who is one of the oldest living curio collectors residing in south Kolkata, had started collecting remnants of the extinct art form (needlepoint art embroidery) from household junk and scrap dealers, since 2008. But, he started collecting the ‘suchichitra’ on ‘Abol Tabol’ characters about ten years ago and completed acquiring the same last September

The exhibition, showcasing the collector’s (Parimal) collection, at Nehru Children’s Museum will continue till February 4. It was inaugurated by Sandip Ray on Saturday. Homemakers in Kolkata had been indulging in one of their favourite pastimes of needle art works since the early 19th century. “I was surprised to see how the unknown woman was completely devoted to Ray’s immortal works and created a complete series through her unique embroidery,” said octogenarian Ray.

Interestingly, one of the 300 embroidery works is an image of Sukumar Ray that clearly mentions a date — September 19, 1923 — sewed on the right bottom corner. “The date denotes the first publication of Abol Tabol,” said curator of the exhibition, Jayanta Kumar Ghose, who is also a Bowbazar-based businessman-turned-curio collector. He believes the works are about 80 years old.

The illustrations sewed on pieces of cotton cloth with coloured threads, include characters like Katth Buro, Kumro Potash, Bombagorer Raja, Hunkumukho Hyangla, Ramgorurer Chhana, Tyansh Goru, Katukutu Buro along with all the complete rhymes from the total set of 46 and seven untitled short rhymes.

Last December, the city also witnessed a solo exhibition by Swapan Maity, sculpture artist who displayed 34 terracotta miniature artworks based on these characters. A city-based designer also prepared a desktop calendar this year on Abol Tabol characters . “We are excited to witness the way the city has been celebrating the centenary celebration of the nonsense rhymes,” said Alokesh Chowdhury, an active member of Sukumar Ray Fan Club in Kolkata.

Hatibagan Nabin Pally puja organizers have planned to install a fiberglass sculpture of Sukumar Ray, a part of the puja installation, at their locality.

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