Fanush commonly known as Sky Lantern or paper made hot air balloon, most probably introduced in Kolkata around 1920 by Shree Gouri Shankar De who was a mathematics teacher at Scottish Church College. After Shree Gouri Shankar De, many other legendary fanush makers have enriched the tradition of fanush making in Kolkata, like Shree Gobindo De, Shree Dipen Bandyopadhyay etc.
In today’s perspective, only few faint name exists, without any photographs of their own or their creations.
Its been a long time, I was thinking to preserve current veteran fanush makers creation, so that like minded people can have a look at their creations…. decades after decades.
In this regard, I personally requested Mr. Sachin Mukherjee from Bhadreswar, Mr. Subir Bose from Konnagar, Mr. Ajoy Dutt from Beadon Street & Mr. P.K. Mallick from Goabagan Street, for giving me a fanush for preservation. Fortunately, everyone of them has agreed to donate a fanush of their own make.
In the second phase, I am having a plan to get fanush from: Mr. Biresh Majunder from Hari Ghosh Street, Mr. Soumitra Goswami from Konnagar & Mr. Dipak Dutta from Duff Street.
Today, i.e on 09th March 2018, Mr. P. K. Mallick from Goabagan Street, has come to my home to donate his fanush. This is the first fanush, which I received for my museum. Mr. Chinmoy Chakraborty (A young fanush maker) has captured the timeless moment of ours.
|Fanush 2018| – Preservation of Fanush Fanush commonly known as Sky Lantern or paper made hot air balloon, most probably introduced in Kolkata around 1920 by Shree Gouri Shankar De who was a mathematics teacher at Scottish Church College.