The Colombo Institute is the repository for the Roma Chatterji Patua Scroll Collection. Dr Chatterji, former Professor of Sociology and Head of Sociology at University of Delhi has deposited her lifelong collection of about 100 Patua scrolls at Colombo Institute. The Patuas are a well-known artisan community located mostly in the Indian state of West Bengal, but also found in parts of Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha and in parts of Bangladesh.
The scrolls depict in narrative form various stories including Indian epics such as the Ramayana But these are interpretations of these folk artists and not hegemonic depictions of epics, local stories or news. The collection will be open for viewing and studying when its institutionalization is complete and will be a focal point for the study of folklore and visual culture in the region.
Prof Chatterji, who was a Visiting Fellow at Colombo Institute (June-July 2025) talks about her collection and what is expected of it in Colombo. [LINK]
For more information please write to: info@colomboinstitute.lk
