The Qwirky Babu 2- Original-Bengal Pattachitra

The Bengali Babu in Pattachitra often comes alive as a charmingly vain and indulgent character — a figure both admired and gently mocked. Draped in crisp dhuti-panjabi, with a twirl of his moustache, the Babu embodies a blend of colonial sophistication and native pride. In the hands of the Chitrakar, his quirks take center stage — his exaggerated posture, coy glance, or his lazy sprawl on a wooden chair as he savors his afternoon leisure.

These scenes, drawn with earthy pigments and bold outlines, capture the satire and sweetness of Bengal’s bhadralok culture. The Babu’s obsession with appearance, poetry, and adda (idle gossip) becomes a playful social commentary — a reflection of how aspiration and indulgence often walked hand in hand in Bengal’s colonial era. Through the Pattachitra’s whimsical strokes, the Babu isn’t merely a man; he’s a mood — a mirror to a society caught between refinement and folly, grace and self-importance.

Bengal Pattachitra paintings are priceless collectibles. The pattachitra painting is an art form that originated in 19th century Bengal, in the vicinity of Kali Temple in Kolkata and is considered to be one of the earliest forms of pop art in India.

Craft: Bengal Pattachitra by the Patuas (State of West Bengal)

Artist- Chandan Chitrakar