Pintu Paul

Characterised by “gentle” characteristics and western education the rise of Bhadralok in the 19th century reflected changes in the nature of Bengali identity and subjectively. The colonial experience led to concern of Bengal elite to define for themselves a social class that would delineate their nobility and shape a new code of acceptance The “Babu” were associated with this new class of Bengalis eager to adopt Western manners and learn that they formed the bulk the workforce needed the cosmopolitan enclave of Calcutta Babumoshai enjoyed a style of life in common and was conscious of Its existence as a class organised to further its ends. The prototype Babu was one whose attire was a variety of English and Indian, claiming to be taught English and flaunting his status in society. The title “Babumoshai was added as a prefix or suffix to a person’s name to recognize (wealthy) Indians who had provided service and assistance to the British in establishing their commercial and political base in India. Raja Nabakrishna Deb of Sobhabazar Rajbari was first known ‘Babu’ from Calcutta. The rise of Bengali Babu(or Babumoshai) as a social class was mainly due to trade and Enterprise in British colonial Bengal.

Post 1857, we witnessed a change in the way these Babus were represented in popular domains. The young Bengali babu was presented as a cartoon character, a ridiculous fusion of East and West, wearing a Dhoti, coat and hat, wearing a monocle, carrying an umbrella and smoking a cigar. I tried to depict their lifestyle in this exhibition.