Will the Ravanas be ready in time for Dussehra? Drive by South civic body poses worry for artisans

Effigies line the pavement of Najafgarh Road in west Delhi’s Titarpur. (Source: Express Photo/Amit Mehra)

Half-finished Ravana effigies, wrapped in sarees and khaki paper, line the pavements of Najafgarh Road in west Delhi’s Titarpur. During any other year, these effigies would have been ready by now. However, as part of its anti-encroachment drive last week, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation confiscated the effigies this year. With Dussehra just days away, the men are worried about completing their orders and paying off their loans.

“We started work towards the end of July. Then, the MCD officials arrived. They damaged some effigies and confiscated several others. I have been in this business for over 30 years. Every year, this pavement is our home for two months before Dussehra. No one had any problems until now,” alleged one of the artisans, who did not wish to be named.

“We requested the officials to provide us a space to shift the effigies; we even said we would pay rent. But our pleas fell on deaf ears. How will I finish my orders and pay off my debts?” added the man, who had borrowed Rs 2 lakh from a moneylender.

However, another artisan, Jay Bhagwan, claimed that the real reason behind removing the effigies was because a garbage dump near Tagore Garden Metro station was to be inaugurated in a high-profile ceremony.

“The MCD wanted to clear the area to make it look good… Look what the MCD did for that five-minute event,” Bhagwan said. Workers Sunil Bhim Singh and Sunny Chandalia claimed police had attacked them with lathis. “All our time and effort has been wasted,” said Sunil, pointing to the heap of broken structures lying by the roadside.

On Tuesday, the Delhi High Court intervened and ordered the SDMC to return the effigies and find a spot for the artisans to work, as well as compensate their losses. However, a senior SDMC official said, “We have been clearing the area since June, following a High Court order. Last week, we received a number of complaints that the men were working on the road. We asked them not to do so. When they did not listen, we confiscated some effigies, which we have returned.”

He added, “We did not damage the effigies. They were being lifted on to the trucks with the help of an earthmover and might have been slightly damaged in the process. A local commissioner has been appointed to look into this. He will submit a report on the damage, if any.” But the news failed to bring any cheer to the artisans. “Even if the MCD officials return the structures, they will be of no use. To make matters worse, the rain has further damaged whatever was left. This year has been a curse,” Bhagwan said.

However, Subhash Shah, from Bihar’s Hajipur, is determined to deliver his orders in time. “This year, we have to deliver 61 effigies and more than half the work is yet to be completed. We will work round the clock.” According to artisan Mahinder Pal, over 30 people are in the business in Titarpur. Each of them are assisted by 10-15 workers, mostly migrant labourers. While skilled artisans earn up to Rs 35,000 in two months, workers get around Rs 8,000-Rs 10,000.

On how the structure is assembled, Pal said they first make the head with Ravana’s signature mustache. Next comes the body, hands, legs, crown, ears and the skirt-like frames that serve as the demon’s garment. The parts are then stuffed with crackers, before being assembled at the spot. The height of each structure varies from 10 to 80 feet. The prices range between Rs 1,000 and Rs 80,000.