The dying art of pottery industry

The practice of manufacturing earthen pots is almost extinct in the Indian subcontinent and potters
blame no-one but the inherent nature of the ancient art. Thanks to aficionados like P. Padurangan
from the Kavarai Theru village in Tamil Nadu who’ve devoted their lives to keep their heritage alive
amidst the fast-paced life and the technological advancement in the world of handicrafts.

“I’m the sole soul who makes pots but the whole street used to do it about 10 years ago. Most of the
potters have passed away now. My sons and daughters don’t know this craft; they are in other jobs.
Even I used to work for RUHSA (Rural Unit for Health and Social Affairs). I took this up only after my
retirement.” says Padurangan, who is struggling to keep up with the declining market and his
business losses.

For generations, the residents of this his village have supplied with everything from pots used for
households to horse statues decorated during Puravi Eduppu but now, their future seems to be as
clear as the muddy clay water because most of the craftsmen are either unemployed or paid too
little.

“It’s difficult to earn a living through pottery nowadays. It requires hard work, but you no longer
earn enough for survival,” sighs the 63-year-old.

Pottery is an art of making different objects by carefully molding clay. The sheer hard work they put
and the skills through which they design those very pots are magnificent. The production process is
labor intensive and time-consuming. When it comes to marketing, the prices of the products were
decided by buyers. Having no mechanisms for getting together, the producers experienced losses
where their labor and craftsmanship were not counted when prices are decided. Even though they
understood the disadvantages, they had no option but to continue with their trade.

For almost 50 years, Padurangan made clay pots and sold them in the nearby market, however, his
Grandnephew M.J. Arvind, is not too keen on pursuing his ancestral line of work. “Pottery has been
in our family for generations. My grandfather and his brothers, his father and their fathers all got by
using this trade. It’s a very important part of our family history, even though I don’t intend to
practice the craft.” explains with the 25-year-old, while watching the old man shape a vase out of
the lump of clay.

As the cutting edge methods for plastic made specialties forayed in the urban zones, people began
depending on them and the customary painstaking pottery lost its shine. being cost-effective is one
thing, keeping your traditions in place is another. The government has endeavored to restore the
business by offering motivations for the dying art of pottery by organizing fairs where the artisans
can showcase their talented work but the situation hasn't changed much.