PATACHARKUCHI, May 2 – The once famous aged-old pottery industry craft of greater Bajali area is presently on the verge of extinction as the same is now struggling for existence at the sole efforts of some skilled craftsman.
Used by the mankind since ancient times, earthenware still play a unasideable role in the day-to-day life. Without the use of earthenware life becomes nearly impossible even though alternatives of earthenware are being produced with the development of science and technology. At a time when plasticware is available and is durable compared to earthenware, the earthen products occupy a special place in both rural as well as urban lifestyles. The process of selecting and preparing earthen pottery is not an easy job as it takes a lot of time, skill, patience, etc, to maintain accuracy, but over the years such craftsmen have been neglected by the concerned authorities.
In such a bleak scenario, some people in several villages under Bajali subdivision are still indulging themselves in this craft to earn their livelihood. Those who are pursuing this craft are called as ‘Hera’ and they are living in miserable economic condition in villages like Charna, Barala, Baitamari, Kaljirapara, Bichankuchi, etc. They are making their craft even without having modern devices like ‘pottery-wheel’. The products like tub, earthen lamp, pot, ‘charu’, etc have good demand, but due to lack of adequate market and transportation facilities, these craftsmen don’t get proper return from selling their products. Although the demand for such products showed some improvement in recent times due to some initiatives for the uplift of the lot of such craftsmen, it is alleged by these people that adequate steps are yet to be taken for their uplift.
If the situation remains so in the days for come, this type of ancient craft may be extinct from society.