**early life and background** manik lal das, also known as kalam patua, is a contemporary exponent of kalighat painting, a traditional indian art form. born in 1962 in krishnanagar, india, he was raised within the patua community of scroll painters and storytellers. **artistic contributions and revival of kalighat paintings** self-taught, manik lal das has been credited with the revival of bengal's kalighat paintings, which had decline…