Adi Panjika Darpan

• Author: Asit Pal
• ISBN: 9789350409626
• Pages: 600
• Format: Hardcover
• Weight: 1088 grams

Summary:
Once upon a time, Bengali households would receive a yearly almanac (Panjika or Paji), which dictated their family’s daily routines. The importance and trust in the Panjika were unquestionable. It was believed to have the answers to almost everything except the date of one’s death. As the Panjika became an indispensable part of Bengali life, its publishers began to flourish. With increasing competition, Panjika publishers started adding essential information and making them more attractive to readers. Over time, directories and advertisements by local businesses found their way into the pages of the almanacs. People, trusting the Panjika, would often buy products based on these ads. Alongside the advertisements, images—especially of deities and festivals—were included, often created through woodcuts by artists. This development gave rise to a unique form of popular art, intended for the masses and created to be visually pleasing. This book compiles numerous such images and advertisements, spanning from 1842 to 1926, with an emphasis on those found in pre-independence Bengal.

Author Bio:
Asit Pal was born on June 15, 1950. He spent his childhood in North Kolkata, particularly around College Street. After studying at the Government Art College, he worked with the Anandabazar group for 30 years. His long-standing research on Bat-Tala art has been highly regarded. In 1983, his edited work on 19th-century Kolkata woodcuts brought him international recognition. His second book, Priyogopal Das: The Woodcut Artist of the 19th Century, is another significant research-based work. Pal has also worked under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, for two years, researching the art evolution in Chitpur. He enjoys both writing and engaging in art critiques, and has been a prominent speaker at many art-related discussions. He has curated exhibitions in Delhi and Kolkata focusing on 19th-century woodcuts and lithographs.