Gania (Nayagarh): Pottery, an-age-old art and trade for thousands of potters in the state, is on the verge of extinction.
Orissa, which once boasted of fine pottery, was famous all over the country for this craft. Earthen wares and products resembled the old-age tradition and culture of the state and were in huge demand. It was exported to various foreign countries.
However, today the state has just a handful of such artisans trying every bit to keep alive the craft and preserve it for future generations.
Earlier, a majority of earthen wares came from villages like Gumundia, Rajingi, Osita, Basantpur and neighbouring villages under Gania block in Nayagarh district. However, today, just two per cent of the workers continue with the trade.
Most of the professional potters are now in their sixties while the younger generation shows no interest in the profession. The younger generations prefer to work as bonded labourers and travel abroad to earn their living instead of sticking to their age old calling.
With the advent of smart kitchens, earthen wares lost their charm.
Demand for these wares came down driving a majority of potter families to give up their traditional trade and embrace other lucrative professions.
However, not everyone has forgotten the pride, honour and art of their age-old profession. Binod Sahu (48) of Ostia village under Rasang panchayat relives the great work of his forefathers.
Sahu, who took to pot-making at the tender age of 12, is now one of the few surviving potters in the village. He makes pots, pitchers, flower vases, diyas and various other earthen wares and travels from village to village to sell them for a living.
He does not charge extra as such earthen objects have become rare. Instead, he takes paddy, rice, pulses from locals in exchange for his wares. “The tradition is fast dying and there will be no one to take up the trade as the government is not showing interest in training the future generation,” Sahu said, adding the government is not making any efforts to promote the art by supporting traditional pot-making. Most of the potters like him have no space to sell their products and hence are left at the mercy of contractors who purchase them at throw-away prices.
Moreover, the potters are harassed by various government agencies when they come out in open to sell their products, he added.
With tears welling up in his eyes, Sahu appealed to the government to take immediate measures to preserve the dying craft. He said with the demand for modern products made of steel, fiber and plastic, the market for traditional pottery is non-existent.
My father, grandfather and forefathers have carried out this profession. I also have the same blood and will carry out the trade till my last breath, said Sahu.
The modern generation prefers tech-based materials. To our dismay, earthen wares are used only during diwali, marriages, pujas and a few other occasions and festivals, limiting the work of potters to just a few months in a year, Sahu lamented. PNN