Prayagraj, 11 June (HS): “India’s identity has long been

shaped by its rich cultural diversity, folk traditions, and traditional

occupations. Among these, the art of pottery—creating earthenware from clay—has

been an integral part of Indian life for centuries. There was a time when village

mornings began with cool water stored in clay pots and evenings glowed with the

light of earthen lamps. Every household used clay products such as pitchers,

pots, surahis, kulhads, and diyas. However, with changing times, this age-old

tradition is gradually fading away. The livelihood that has sustained

generations of potter families is now facing a serious crisis. From an economic

perspective, pottery is no longer as profitable as it once was. Producing

earthenware requires immense labor, time, and skill, yet the income earned is

often insufficient. The process of sourcing quality clay, preparing it, shaping

the products, drying them, and firing them in kilns is both demanding and

costly,” opines Dr. Mani Shankar Dwivedi, Principal of Motilal Nehru P.G.

College, Kaundhiyara.

Seventy-six-year-old Ram Lal Prajapati of Chaka village in

Karchhana, who has been practicing this craft since the 1970s, believes that

pottery products do not receive fair market value, forcing many potter families

into financial hardship. The greatest impact is being felt by the younger

generation, which is increasingly losing interest in carrying forward this

traditional art.

Similarly, Nand Kishore from Dandi identifies access to

quality clay as one of the biggest challenges facing potters today. He explains

that a significant amount of time and money is spent merely arranging suitable

clay, while both government and society remain largely indifferent to their

struggles.

Potter Gameraj points out that most artisans are still

confined to local village markets, while modern commercial networks dominate

the economy. He also notes that the widespread use of plastic products has

severely damaged the demand for traditional earthenware.

Ram Bharose of Kaundhiyara expresses hope that access to

electric pottery wheels, quality clay, improved iron kilns, and participation

in modern marketing systems could bring transformative changes to the lives of

potter families. Such support, he believes, would not only improve livelihoods

but also contribute significantly to environmental sustainability. The reality is that clay products are more relevant today

than ever before from an environmental perspective.

At a time when the world is struggling with plastic

pollution, earthenware offers a completely natural, biodegradable, and

eco-friendly alternative. The challenges faced by potters are not merely the

concerns of one community; they are closely linked to the preservation of our

cultural heritage and traditional knowledge systems. The need of the hour is

for governments, corporations, non-governmental organizations, and society at

large to join hands and take meaningful action. Potters should be provided with

modern design training, technical support, financial assistance, easy access to

credit, digital marketing opportunities, and sustainable market linkages.

The spinning potter’s wheel does more than shape clay—it

shapes our culture, traditions, and self-reliance. It is essential that we act

now to preserve this invaluable heritage so that future generations can

continue to experience the earthy fragrance of clay and the timeless spirit of

Indian craftsmanship associated with it.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi