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What do you do with a pen once it runs out of ink? For Dhubri-based artist Pradip Kumar Ghosh, the answer is simple: give it a second life.
Thousands of pens and markers that might otherwise have ended up in the bin have taken the shape of a six-foot-tall Durga idol this Puja. Made from around 7,000 discarded pieces, the idol is the latest creation in Ghoshs ongoing waste-reuse initiative. Ghosh, a private tutor by profession, has spent nearly four months working on the idol, which will be displayed at the Usha Sangha Durga Puja pandal in the Vishnu Cinema Hall lane of Dhubri town in Assam. The unusual choice of material is in keeping with a practice he has followed for more than three decades, using discarded objects to create Durga idols while drawing attention to the need to reuse waste. Speaking to ANI, Ghosh said he began making idols from discarded materials in 1992. For him, the exercise is not limited to just creating something different for the festive season. He also wants people to think about what they throw away and whether those items could be put to another use. I am a private tutor and a sculptor. Every year, I create a Durga Murti using discarded materials to help reduce environmental pollution and save money. I have been making Durga Murtis from waste materials since 1992, he said. The idol presented its own challenge, with thousands of pens and markers having to be brought together to create the structure. Ghosh said the six-foot-tall idol took him approximately four months to complete. This year, I have created a Durga Murti using around 7,000 pens. It took me approximately four months to complete, and the idol is around six feet tall, he told ANI. Pens and markers are only the latest materials to find their way into Ghosh's work. Over the years, he has experimented with a range of everyday items, including cotton cloth, coconut husks, coconut leaves, vegetables, roti, papad and soap. He has also used discarded plastic bottles, dry tree branches and other materials that would otherwise be thrown away. Each year, the challenge is to find a new way to work with these objects while giving the traditional Durga idol a distinct appearance. His experiments have gradually brought him recognition beyond his hometown, with his creations finding places at Durga Puja pandals in Bongaigaon in Assam and Cooch Behar in West Bengal. His previous works have also attracted public attention. In 2025, Ghosh made a Durga idol using around 15 kilograms of discarded paper. In 2024, he drew attention for another creation made from nearly 8,000 plastic bottle caps. Ghosh hopes his work encourages more people, particularly young people, to look at discarded materials differently. He believes that reusing everyday objects does not always require expensive equipment or elaborate arrangements. Sometimes, it begins with recognising that something considered waste may still have a purpose. I would like to convey a message to the youth of this country: we should find ways to reuse discarded materials instead of throwing them away, he said. For Ghosh, the purpose of collecting these items is to find a way to turn them into something useful or meaningful. He also believes such initiatives could make a difference if more people adopted them, including those from economically weaker sections of society. My ultimate aim is to create something useful or meaningful from the materials I collect. If we reuse discarded items, we can help reduce pollution. If more people, including those from economically weaker sections of society, take up such initiatives, it could make a significant difference in reducing pollution, he said. As Durga Puja preparations gather pace, Ghosh's latest creation brings together two ideas: an artistic interpretation of the goddess and a reminder of the waste generated in everyday life. The Hindu festival of Durga Puja, also known as Durgotsava or Sharodotsava, is a yearly celebration that honours the Hindu goddess Durga and commemorates her victory over Mahishasur. Hindu mythology holds that the goddess comes to her earthly abode at this time to bless her devotees. This nine-night festival transcends religious boundaries, offering a testament to India's rich traditions and vibrant spirituality. Immerse yourself in the heart of the celebrations as devotees pay homage to the nine distinct forms of Goddess Durga. Each form represents a unique facet of the divine feminine energy, encompassing the many aspects of life from strength and courage to beauty and wisdom. (ANI)
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