Cutting Biscuit Boxes to Begin His Journey, College Student Dipon’s Triumph Touches the Soil of Ichamati with His Clay Idols

**Basirhat:** Unyielding determination, focus, and a love for art—these three companions have guided young idol artist Dipon Biswas from the Thubar More area of Basirhat, North 24 Parganas, on his path to realizing his dreams. What began as a childhood passion for making idols from biscuit boxes has now transformed into a full-fledged artistic identity. His clay idols are now reaching beyond the borders of the district and state.

Dipon’s artistic journey began at just 12 years old. At that time, he was a fifth-grade student. His father, Bholakrishna Biswas, would bring biscuits from the market. Dipon would cut the biscuit boxes and create various idol forms by observing them. Gradually, his interest in making clay idols grew.

He would save some money from the pocket money given by his father for his tiffin to buy brushes, colors, and other materials. He primarily used the clay from the local Ichamati River as the main ingredient for making idols. Initially, he made idols just one foot tall. Later, he progressed to two feet, and both the size and his artistic skills kept improving.

Today, Dipon is a third-year student at Taki Government College. Alongside his studies, he regularly creates idols. He is receiving orders for idol-making from puja organizers across Kolkata and various parts of West Bengal, as well as interest from organizers in other states in his artworks.

Not only does he create idols, but he also funds his artistic pursuits with his earnings. A significant portion of the money earned from selling idols is spent on buying raw materials, colors, and other tools for idol-making. He uses the remaining money to cover his educational expenses.

Dipon’s talent has also been recognized in multiple places. His mother, Geeta Biswas, claims that her son secured the first position in a state-level art festival. Additionally, Dipon has been awarded in various art competitions at the sub-district, district, and Taki area levels.

Geeta Biswas wishes to take her son’s talent to a larger platform. Her dream is for her son to study in the art department at Rabindra Bharati University if given the opportunity. However, financial constraints pose a significant obstacle to that dream. The family’s primary source of income is her father’s small business. While trying to manage the household, the family is also striving to support their son’s artistic pursuits.

However, financial limitations have not been able to stop Dipon’s dreams. He continues to fight to build his future with the clay, brushes, colors, and tools from Ichamati.

According to his mother, she has seen a unique talent in her son since childhood. She dreams that this talent will one day cross the borders of the country and reach foreign lands—this is now Geeta Biswas’s hope. She hopes that the idols created by Dipon will one day adorn various puja pandals both in the country and abroad, and that his art will also bring glory to the nation.

What began with cutting biscuit boxes has now led to the creation of clay idols by that very hand. Dipon’s artistic journey, which started from the banks of Ichamati in Taki, is now moving towards new dreams.