SAVE THE POTTERS
Photos: Huzzatul Mursalin
“Potters actually were popularised during the rule of zamindars, and they were patronised to make the statues of goddesses, plates, and other aesthetical items for them”, says 62-year-old Sankar Dhar, a phenomenal artist and sculptor. “But when the zamindar system ended, these potters started to make different items for household uses, sold them door-to-door or sometimes in the local markets called 'Hat'”, he states.
It is true that there was a time when our ancestors used pottery items in their day to day household work. From the kitchen utensils to aesthetical showpieces, pottery items were the most used household tools in prior times. It was not too long ago that earthen pots, pitchers, jugs, glasses, bowls, buckets, small banks, pot covers, dishes, flower vases, dolls were found in every home, mostly in rural areas. But in this short period of time, this tradition has changed. And, it was this change that took the potters' future to a different path.
Now-a-days, our markets are full of household materials made of mostly plastic, ceramic, metal, melamine and more. “Comparing to the pottery items, these products are sometimes very cheap (for example, plastic products) and durable (such as, metallic items)”, says 40-year-old Bijoy Paul, a potter of Nilphamari Sadar Upazilla. “Besides, previously, we could collect clay at free of cost, but now we have to buy it comparatively at an expensive rate”, he adds.
Not only the clay, but also the price of instruments related to pottery making, fuel for burning the raw products, colours, brushes, and in a word, every single thing's price has been increased very rapidly. Besides, the lack of demand, production costs and the overall difficulty of the process has discouraged them to stick to this profession, which resulted in a career shift.
“Many of us have had to leave that profession and are now working as factory workers, shopkeepers, hawkers and migrant labourers in different foreign countries”, says Paul.
But those who could not give up this job of their ancestors are mostly dependent on the sales of different occasions and fairs. “During the occasions, we get most of our orders, as people now-a-days love to buy aesthetical terracotta items for homes and offices”, says 45-year-old Nitai Paul, a potter of Paul Paara, Dhamrai. “But it is very hard to maintain a big joint family all the year round with such low sales”, he adds.
Potters these days are trying to cope with the demand of people, and hence, are engaging in making different showpieces-- dolls, small banks, flower vases, pots and things like that. They believe that if they can get proper support from the government and other non-government organisations, at least they do not need to switch their jobs. Also, if they can get soft loans from the government and other financial institutions, it would be very helpful for them to continue with their family business.
On the other hand, Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) says that as small and cottage industries are their main target group, they always have a soft corner for them and hence try to do their best to retain these potters in their traditional profession.
“We are trying to inspire them with our easiest loan system with 10 percent annual interest rate”, says Md. Shafiur Rahman Regional Director, BSCIC Dhaka. “Also, we provide them with registration and Small and Medium- Sized Enterprises (SME) loan from SME Foundation and others organisation”, he adds.
But the potters believe if the rate of interest is kept low, it will be more convenient for them. Also, the government should arrange frequent fairs, both in urban and rural areas, or create a marketplace for the potters, so that they can get more benefit. Last but not the least, instead of letting this profession be extinct totally, if the government takes necessary steps to revive the art through professional training, the potters can innovate new products in today's competitive market.
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