Abstract Panchmura is the heart of Bengal Terracotta craft. It comes under Taldangra block of Khatra subdivision of Bankura district. It is located around 22 km away from temple town Bishnupur. Its locational extent is 22096/ N and 87016/E and average elevation is 68 mt. As per latest census (2011) the total population of village Panchmura was 3719 among which the male and female population was 1854 and 1865 respectively. The Population below 6 years was 425. The literacy rate was 76.65%. The Kumbhakar artisans are produced the unique Terracotta art. The Term Terracotta indicates red baked pottery items. The local clay soil is used to prepare the earthen articles in red and black colour. The term Terracotta originates from Latin word ‘Terra’ and ‘Cotta’ which means baked red earthen agents. The long neck earthen horse adorns of home interior and bears symbolic value of Terracotta. The long neck Terracotta horse and earthen elephants are manufactured in this village. The fan shaped earthen Manasa Chali is another popular religious article which symbolizes the regional goddess Manasa Devi. The locally available red Terracotta clay is used for making pottery items. Various earthen tiles, cup, plate, utensils and other decorative articles are manufactured with wide range of colour & design. Terracotta articles were used to decorate the sculpture of the temples made during Malla dynasty. The Kumbhakar artisans usually produce Terracotta articles by mouldings dry and burnt clay since its inception that symbolizes the local culture. This article tries to focus about the socio-economic profile of women artisans at Panchmura village after COVID Pandemic situation. The major problems are also identified along with some suggestive measures also recommended for the artisan community in this study.
Atanu Sen (Wed,) studied this question.