Balurghat, Oct. 13 -- Transforming a dark chapter behind bars into a moving journey of redemption, faith, and artistic excellence, Raju Sarkar has proved that a clean slate is always possible. Once confined within the high walls of a prison, the resident of Sherpur in Buniadpur Municipality found his life irrevocably altered through his craft. Today, he stands as a beacon of hope for many, shaping divine forms that now bring light to the very places that once held him captive.
His story took a dramatic turn in 2016 when he was incarcerated at Balurghat Central Correctional Home after being accused in a POCSO case. Having learned the art of idol-making during his childhood, Sarkar was entrusted by prison authorities with crafting the facility's Durga idol that year. What seemed like a routine task became a pivotal moment of spiritual liberation. Shortly after completing the idol, he was granted bail and in due course, the court cleared him of all charges, declaring him innocent.
Working alongside his wife, Puja Pramanik, Sarkar specialises in traditional Ekchala Durga idols adorned in intricate Daker Saaj. This year, his reach has expanded further, securing orders not only for Balurghat and local Buniadpur community pujas but also for Raiganj Correctional Home.
"I believe that making the idol inside the correctional home in 2016 changed the course of my life and brought me the freedom and dignity I lost. Through these idols, I want to send a message of peace, hope and the possibility of a new beginning to all the inmates," Sarkar said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.