The Palm-Leaf Sepoy. তালপাতার সেপাই I Kolkata Centre for Creativity-KCC on 28th February 2021 organized a Workshop on the making of Bengal’s oldest form of rod puppet - famously known as the ‘Taal Patar Sepai’. The workshop conducted by Prof. Aloke Kumar, with presentation followed by a hands-on making, facilitates the traditional process of the Palm Leaf Sepoy. The name associates itself with the use of biodegradable materials such as dried palm leaves, bamboo sticks and colours to create the puppet. The message of sustainability breathes itself into the act of re-creating Bengal’s oldest form of rod puppet. ~ Remember the palm leaf sepoy that you played with in your childhood? Yes, in absence of electronic gadgets, children once played with indigenous toys, like the Taal Patar Sepai. This particular craft has a historical significance. It started in Bengal during the time of Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 and one of the place of the Sepoy Mutiny was Burdwan. Mahtab Chand, who was born in 1820, was the Raja of Burdwan from 1832 until his death in 1879. It was during his rule that the Sepoy (Sephai) Mutiny took place.

2. তালপাতার সিপাই
Talpatar Sepai
A talk by Prof. Aloke Kumar

3. Palm Tree

4. Dried Palm Leaves

5. Make Ready of Palm Leaves

6. The Classic Tal Patar Sepai

7. It started in Bengal
during the time of Sepoy
Mutiny of 1857 as one
of the place of the Sepoy
Mutiny was Burdwan.

8. Mahtab Chand, who was born in 1820 and was
Raja of Burdwan from 1832 until his death in
1879. It was during his rule that the Sepoy
(Sepai) Mutiny took place.

9. William Tayler (1808–1892) was a civil servant
of the East India Company who lived in India
from 1829 until 1867. He became
commissioner in 1855 and in 1857 was
involved in the suppression of the 1857 Sepoy
Rebellion. His measures against the local
people met with resistance. He was regarded
as a failure by his superiors, and was
suspended and given an appointment of lower
rank.

10. The Sepoy Mutiny. The Indian soldiers fighting the Sepoy (Sepai)

11. This is a painting of a Sepoy by Auguste
Wahlen during the Mutiny from whom
the Tal Patar Sepai takes its name.
It was a symbol of mockery of the
British Sepoy, transformed into a puppet
Giving it the sobriquet of Tal Patar
Sepai , symbolizing some one who is
totally ineffective.
A Company sepoy, in an engraving, with original
hand colouring, by Auguste Wahlen, from "Moeurs,
Usages, et Costumes de tous les Peuples de Monde,
d'apres des Documents Authentiques et les Voyages
les plus Recents . Brussels, 1843-44.

12. The art of making Taal-patar Sepai was
practiced widely in rural Bengal. The
entire process required a lot of patience
and creativity. The palm leaves would be
sun-dried and then measured and cut
into small pieces in the shape of various
human body parts. These parts would be
joined with bits of thread. Finally, the
physical features of each soldier would be
drawn meticulously using paint brush.
Although a particular pattern was
followed to drawn the figures, but each
toy had distinct features and facial
expressions depending on the handiwork
of the artisan who painted each Sepai.
After the paint dried, a stick would be
attached at the back of the toy and the
strings would be tied to make it mobile.

13. It is Dolgobindo Dutta who, taking
advantage of the history started
making these puppets. He used
this art form to create these
simple puppets to entertain
children. He made the British
Soldier dance on our fingers.
Today, his son Madan Mohan
Dutta is continuing with making
the craft.

14. They became so popular in our
modern day narrative that they are
often depicted in our
Films.

15. Today, they have taken many forms and colours

16. The Sepoy taking different forms

17. New Characters created . Saheb – Mem
Often done in Obverse and Reverse

18. Different Characters created for puppetry and variety

19. A more popular character is Bag Raja : Tiger King

20. Movement of Tiger King

21. During fairs, hawkers
selling Talpatar Sepai
would attract a big crowd
of children and their
guardians who invariably
bought these cheap toys
in bulk for the children in
the family and also as gift
items for neighbourhood
kids.
In fact, the toy was so
popular that it entered
Bengali vocabulary. But
the home-crafted
Talpatar Sepai is now lost
in the annals of history.

22. These days, there is an acute
dearth of demand for this
homogenous toy and toymakers
associated with this trade are on
the verge of extinction.
But not all is lost yet. There are a
couple of artisans in Birbhum
district who still make a living by
crafting Talpatar Sepai and selling
these at Puja Pandals and other
places.

23. All is NOT LOST as Children still enjoy this simple Craft

27. These Characters are also a simple form of Rod Puppetry

28. Today’s Work Shop will be conducted by Madan Mohan Dutta

31. NAMASKAR