Dukhushyam Chitrakar of Naya was a revered master patua, village elder, poet, and mystic. He was trained by his maternal uncle and learnt  patua songs from his brother-in-law. He was one of the most respected patuas of Medinipur and had taught Patachitra songs to almost all the present day patuas in his village. His scrolls have been showcased in France, Italy, Australia, Bangladesh and are also part of the collection of numerous museums across the world.

Dukhushyam`s philosophy of tolerance embraced both continuity and change. Concerned that the village patuas were neglecting the musical dimension of the tradition, Dukhushyam reinvigorated his heritage by doing something unprecedented in the 1970s: training women in the art of the patuas. 

Though his work was firmly entrenched in traditional mythology, yet he also painted scrolls on Colonial India and the independence struggle and even contemporary events, inspired not by the market but by the event itself.  A prolific writer of Patua songs, he wrote a lot about incidents affecting people`s lives and was even jailed for his efforts during Indira Gandhi`s Emergency. 

The legendary artist breathed his last on March 9, 2022, succumbing to a sudden stroke.  He was 78. His passing has left a huge void in the patua community and in the world of folk art