A Review on Dokra: The Traditional Craft of Bikna, Bankura and Its Artisan Struggles

Papiya Ghosh; Hradayesh Kumar

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i01.66993

A Review on Dokra: The Traditional Craft of Bikna, Bankura and Its Artisan Struggles

Author(s)	Ms. Papiya Ghosh, Dr. Hradayesh Kumar
Country	India
Abstract	Indian rural industries continue to rely heavily on traditional crafts and skilled artisans. The origins of metallurgy on the Indian subcontinent date back to the with the Harappan and Babylon civilization pioneering advanced metalworking techniques, including the lost-wax casting method known as Dokra. This Dokra art dates back 4,000 years to ancient craftsmanship, as revealed by radiocarbon dating. This non-ferrous metal casting technique is one of the oldest in India and remains an enduring part of the country’s cultural heritage. The term 'Dokra' refers to a community of nomadic metalworkers who historically travelled across regions such as Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, creating intricately designed and ornamented metal artifacts. Today, these some of artisans have settled in specific regions, with notable clusters in Bankura in West Bengal. Dokra art serves as a living testament to ancient Neolithic figurine traditions and pre-Iron Age metal craftsmanship. This research aims to document the rich history of Dokra craft in Bankura, technique of Dokra craft making, raw materials, craft making tools and analyse the socio-economic conditions of artisans in Bikna village. The study also evaluates the challenges faced by these artisans and explores potential solutions to ensure the survival and growth of this traditional craft in the modern era. From my ten-day workshop experience with Dokra artisans, I have come to appreciate that this art is not only visually captivating but also remarkably intricate and requires immense skill and effort to create. And through the work and process, I have come to understand that this art is impossible to create without the craftsmanship and the skilled hands of an artisan.
Keywords	Dokra Art, Non-ferrous Metallurgy Art, Bikna Village, Lost Wax Casting, Artisan
Field	Sociology > Archaeology / History
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 1, January-February 2026
Published On	2026-01-22
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i01.66993

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A Review on Dokra: The Traditional Craft of Bikna, Bankura and Its Artisan Struggles

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