Potters hang on despite hardships

Rourkela: Pottery has become a way of life for the 15 families of Koilagate area of Bandhamunda block near the Steel City since last 18 years.

Hailing from Gaya of Bihar, these families spend most of their time in making pottery ware like small earthen-pots, diyas, kumpis, jhuna-dana, and other items from clay.

“We have no time to rest for three months in October, November and December every year as there is a great demand for pottery for Dussehra and Diwali,” said Mukesh Prajapati, a potter.

Giving details on the pottery work, Prajapati says, “We collect clay from Tilak Nagar area under Rourkela Municipality for which we pay Rs. 1500 for each load of clay”.

Generally we use red clay for pottery. In a day we make around 350-400 clay objects or pottery ware.

“Pottery is not made from raw clay but a mixture of clay and other materials. For pottery, the clay is modeled, dried and heated. Clay bodies are mixed with additives which give the clay different properties when heated,” Prajapati added. He said that the number of clay modeling by hand is very less.

“We use Khumbhar Chaka (potter’s wheel) to give a shape to a pottery which is later taken to a kiln for heating which removes all water from the clay. Several traders from Rourkela come here and we use to do business by giving them 100 pieces of small clay objects for Rs. 35.

“During festive seasons, we make a business of Rs. 4000-Rs. 5000 per month. In off-season, our monthly business is around Rs. 3000 which is Rs. 1000 less in comparison to festive seasons”, he said, adding “It becomes very difficult for us to manage our family during the lean seasons”.

On asked about any financial assistance by the administration or the political leaders, Prajapati said, “Till now we have not got any help from them”.