'The Osama scroll', painted scroll by Madhu Chitrakar, 2004

Painted scrolls have been used in Bengal in eastern India for centuries as a means of telling religious stories and also of informing people about important current events. Although today even the smallest village is likely to have access to televised news, this tradition continues in the villages of West Bengal not far from Kolkata.

Major events, whether local or global, become subjects for painted scrolls – recent examples have been the Asian tsunami, the Gujarati earthquake, and the assassination of Indira Gandhi, as well as broader subjects such as birth control and the spread of AIDS. The scrolls, a long strip of paper backed with cloth and painted in registers are carried from village to village by their painters and are unrolled before an audience, to the accompaniment of songs which tell the story of the events depicted.

The attacks on New York on September 11th 2001 quickly became the subject of scroll paintings. This one, acquired from the artist, Madhu Chitrakar, in 2005, was painted in the village of West Medinipur in West Bengal in about 2004. The scroll is 4.1metres long by 55.9 centimetres wide (about 13 foot long by 2 foot wide).

You can look at individual scenes from the scroll in the selection below; you can also zoom in on the whole scroll in the image below.

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  Madhu Chitrakar, painted scroll depicting the 9/11 attacks on New York (detail)

  Madhu Chitrakar
  Painted Scroll depicting the 9/11 attacks on New York (detail)
  West Medinipur, India
  2004
  Museum No. IS 57-2005

  George Bush (left) is sitting with his advisors, talking to Osama bin Laden (on the right) by mobile phone. In the centre are the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre.

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  Madhu Chitrakar, painted scroll depicting the 9/11 attacks on New York (detail)

  Madhu Chitrakar
  Painted Scroll depicting the 9/11 attacks on New York (detail)
  West Medinipur, India
  2004
  Museum No. IS 57-2005

  The citizens of New York are shown in front of sky-scrapers. In the centre is a modern building based on the Burj al-Arab Hotel in Dubai.

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  Madhu Chitrakar, painted scroll depicting the 9/11 attacks on New York (detail)

  Madhu Chitrakar
  Painted Scroll depicting the 9/11 attacks on New York (detail)
  West Medinipur, India
  2004
  Museum No. IS 57-2005

  Osama bin Laden on a motor-cycle is hailed by his followers (on the right). The citizens of New York (indicated by the Statue of Liberty on the left) go about their business.
  Followers of Osama with guns are shown in Europe, indicated by the Eiffel Tower in the centre.

• 

  Madhu Chitrakar, painted scroll depicting the 9/11 attacks on New York (detail)

  Madhu Chitrakar
  Painted Scroll depicting the 9/11 attacks on New York (detail)
  West Medinipur, India
  2004
  Museum No. IS 57-2005

  A man with a gun and a mobile phone (presumably a suicide attacker) is hailed by followers of Bin Laden.

• 

  Madhu Chitrakar, painted scroll depicting the 9/11 attacks on New York (detail)

  Madhu Chitrakar
  Painted Scroll depicting the 9/11 attacks on New York (detail)
  West Medinipur, India
  2004
  Museum No. IS 57-2005

  Osama and his followers look down on the induction of young men into al-Qaida. They are trained to become blood-thirsty by drinking the blood of a dog (on the left), while demon-faced planes fly over Afghanistan.

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  Madhu Chitrakar, painted scroll depicting the 9/11 attacks on New York (detail)

  Madhu Chitrakar
  Painted Scroll depicting the 9/11 attacks on New York (detail)
  West Medinipur, India
  2004
  Museum No. IS 57-2005

  Commuters going to work in New York, carrying their briefcases on their heads.

• 

  Madhu Chitrakar, painted scroll depicting the 9/11 attacks on New York (detail)

  Madhu Chitrakar
  Painted Scroll depicting the 9/11 attacks on New York (detail)
  West Medinipur, India
  2004
  Museum No. IS 57-2005

  The attack on the Twin Towers by many demon-faced planes. The towers are seen collapsing and being engulfed with flames.

• 

  Madhu Chitrakar, painted scroll depicting the 9/11 attacks on New York (detail)

  Madhu Chitrakar
  Painted Scroll depicting the 9/11 attacks on New York (detail)
  West Medinipur, India
  2004
  Museum No. IS 57-2005

  Television reporters at the scene with their cameras.

• 

  Madhu Chitrakar, painted scroll depicting the 9/11 attacks on New York (detail)

  Madhu Chitrakar
  Painted Scroll depicting the 9/11 attacks on New York (detail)
  West Medinipur, India
  2004
  Museum No. IS 57-2005

  Osama bin Laden rides on a white horse through Afghanistan, his hand raised in salutation to his people. On the left, he is seen in his hiding place in the mountains.