Customers don’t give credit to labour, creativity, rue potters

Anthropomorphic and animal terracotta figurines represent Harappan site, which now falls in Pakistan’s Punjab. Punjabi potter’ rue that the art of making objects with earth does not command deserving respect which limits their earnings.

Sandeep Kumar, a young potter, said customers citing their creations as just an item made of simple earth argue that they should be charged only limited price. They do not value their labour and creativity which had gone into making these pieces of art, he said.

Customers while citing our creations as just an item made of simple earth argue that we should charge only limited price. They do not value our labour and creativity which has gone into making these pieces of art. Sandeep Kumar, a potter

He said, “Before the making of any terracotta item, a string of laborious process, including physical hard work and patience is required. After drying of earth, it is pounded to turn it in a powder form. Then it is mixed with water. When the mixture acquires a dense liquid form, it is sieved to ensure that no oversize particle is left. The acquired soil is then kneaded and its rolls are made. Before giving it a final form, it is dried in sunlight and kept in a hearth for three to four days. Eventually, these terracotta figurines and lamps are painted with beautiful colours.”

In today’s digital age, when youths have a number of means of entertainment, it is the enthusiasm of residents as well as potters that has kept this centuries-old tradition alive.

Idols of deities Lakshmi, Ganesh and others are brought from Agra and Lucknow. As Diwali approaches, local artisans prefer to make big earthen lamps, hathari, elephants, horses, pari and kandola (a pot for holding parshad).

Trader-cum-potter Janak Raj, selling terracotta items at a shop in Khidoneyan Wala Bazaar, situated in the narrow maze of the walled city, says, “The sale of terracotta articles picks up around festivals as school students buy toys. Customers are ready to pay more for terracotta items, provided these are of fine quality and good looking.”

He said, “A piece of ‘diya’ (earthen lamp) is sold between Re 1 to Rs 10, depending upon their quality, a piece of hathari between Rs 30 to Rs 40, a piece of kandola and chandol from Rs 100 to Rs 150.”

He said there was at least 10 per cent hike in the rates of these articles in comparison to last year. Similar was the hike in the prices of raw material including colour and earth, he added.