Karimganj's Pollabi Deb Roy's recycled product Durga idol finds a place in the International Book of Records

During the season of Durga Puja, the biggest festival of the Bengali community, one gets to truly witness the craftsmanship of idol-making. Sculptors spend months making idols of the Goddess Durga, each in their own unique style. Pollabi Deb Roy, a young girl from Karimganj, decided to do something different and made an idol of Goddess Durga out of all kinds of recycled products, which fetched her a lot of attention and appreciation from different corners of the valley. Now, she has added another feather to her wings, as her effort has been recognised by the ‘International Book of Records’ for making the largest statue of Goddess Durga by using recycled products.

Pollabi Deb Roy is an undergraduate student of Sanskrit Hons, who has always been into the art of crafting and fine arts. “I have prior experience of making hand-made products like ornaments & all, and I have also worked with recycled products to make different kinds of things. Back in 2018, just before Puja, my mother gave me the idea of making an idol of Goddess Durga with all sorts of recycled products. I liked the idea and started working on it. It took me more than 2 months to finish it and I had used things like plastic packets, spoons, aluminium sheets, cardboards, etc. to make a 6 ft tall idol”, said Pollabi talking about the initial spark of working with this idea.

When the idol was complete, it got appreciation and attention from all over the valley. But little did she know back then, that her effort would go on to be recognised at the international level and that too making a world record. She then said, “After that, a few months had passed, and then one day somebody told me that I should reach out to these record books to see if this achievement could make it to those books of records. So I got in touch with the International Book of Records. But the entire process of verifying and claim is quite long and tedious. They check everything starting from video clips to media coverage even if it’s at a regional level, timestamp, etc. So this verification process took months and then the pandemic happened. That’s why the recognition came a bit late and finally on August 31st, I got the letter confirming that my work has been officially recognised by them as a record holder.”

Due to travel restrictions, the International Book of Records authority sent her the official confirmation letter and the medal by mail. Pollabi also expressed that she wholeheartedly supports the cause of environmental conservation, and believes that getting rid of non-biodegradable elements from nature is crucial in conserving nature. In the past as well, she has used her talent and skill of handicraft to make different kinds of things out of recycled products. But this time, her record-breaking effort has truly brought her accolade and adulation from all over the globe.

“Of course I’m all excited and elated to get recognized at such a global level. And to use your work to send a social message which in turn gets recognised by an International platform is something that I’ll cherish all my life. I’d like this opportunity to tell everyone that conserving nature and doing away with non-biodegradable things like plastic should be everyone’s priority if we have to stand any chance to save nature”, asserted Pollabi who has made the entire Barak Valley proud with her innovative effort.