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Bhubaneswar, Oct. 9: The holy town of Puri has been known for its art and crafts for long. While the ancient craftsmanship on stone, wood and sand has earned fame for the artisans here, 50-year-old Fakir Samanta Karma Maharana has added a new aspect of creativity to the city’s age-old crafts. He has been making innovative artefacts out of waste paper that won him many laurels.
Hailing from a family of carpenters known for remarkable wooden crafts, Maharana has been creating decorative pieces out of waste paper for the past 30 years.
“Once on a rainy evening in 1981, I saw some waste paper getting completely drenched on our portico. I made a paste out of it and stuffed it in a box and the next day it had turned really strong. I tried making a few small items from it and was successful. Ever since, I have made thousands of articles with waste paper following the same technique,” says Maharana.
From huge Konark wheels, idols of Lord Jagannath and his siblings along with the throne and other puja set-ups, Maharana makes impressive miniatures of many monuments and idols of deities. The intricate patterns of design on his crafts make them fascinating. Beautifully designed pen-stands, vases, wall-hangings and show pieces made by Maharana, that appear to have been made out of wood, are one of the most popular items at the Puri Urban Haat.
“Relatives and friends who visit Puri often collect items made by him. These crafts are as strong as wood and even give a lustrous appearance,” said Samarpita Tripathy, a local resident.
Maharana’s installations with relief effect have been recently exhibited at an art fair in Delhi. He is currently working on making furniture out of waste paper. “It feels impossible to many but after I prepare a paste out of paper, add glue and dry it, the product becomes surprisingly strong. Even a bridge on which as many as 50 people can walk at a time can be made out of this,” says Maharana.
Art and craft is however not the only forte of Maharana. He is also an Odissi dance and music guru. “I have taught craft work to as many as 50 youngsters so far. I also give Odissi dance lessons,” he adds.
