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| Earthen pottery reciprocal to vanishing art, diminishing merchandise | | | Mishu Gupta | 5/1/2010 11:22:29 PM |
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EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, May 1: The traditional art of earthen pot-making is on the wane as the young generation is not inclined towards it as it is no more a profit making venture.
With the invention of refrigerators and water coolers, people prefer electrical gadgets instead of purchasing earthen pots, besides considering that it would affect their health.
Even though doctors have been suggesting people to go in for drinking water kept in earthen pots for its medicinal value during the summer season, people don't take the advice seriously.
One of the potters, while talking to our correspondent said, "till eighties, earthen pots were considered as one of the basic items in almost every household. But with advent of refrigerators, the number of people using the traditional pots for drinking is diminishing".
He said he had learnt the art from his grandfather and wanted to pass it to his son but as this had become unprofitable, the young generation was trying its hands on new ventures.
He said, besides earthen pots, they also made things like diyas, flower vases and small plates during Divali days.
He further said that they wanted to sell these things to other states but didn't have sufficient finances to transport it. He said it was not easy to get a loan from a public sector bank without the help of middlemen who took large amounts of commissions for the loan sanctioned.
Adding to it he said, "The alluvial soil needed for making pots is not available here. We have to get it from outside and hence the cost goes up. One cannot imagine the number of pots that break while baking. It is strange that people can spend a lot of money on other things, but on a necessity like pots that gives cool water, people make a lot of fuss. Moreover our business is seasonal."
Varsha, mother of two young children says," I always buy earthen pots and fill these up at night. When the children come from school, I always give them water from earthen pots. The children feel hot due to their long ride in rickshaw, and cold water of refrigerator causes sore throat. Water of earthen pots is much safer.”
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