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The Magic in Clay
- Mamtha N.R
Creating a pot, shaping and moulding it on a wheel till it takes a form, is
for a creative soul a moment of supreme happiness. The creator in this case is
the potter. The work of the potter has always been part and parcel of India's
everyday life. In those days the potter was a happy man. Mud pots were used
for cooking, for storing water, even for drawing water from the well. The
potter lived a comfortable life.
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Time has changed
 Though plastic and metal are pushing him and his craft over the edge, the potter still remains respectful due to the divine connection and origins of his
craft. Throughout India the recurring name of a potter is Kumbara. The prefix ku is 'of the earth' and a clay pitcher is therefore called
kumbha. Regional variations move from chakrasalis, kumbara in Kannada, Odari in
Tulu, Kulal in Sanskrit and Kusavan in Tamil. The social status of Kulal is supposed to be superior among
Sudras. We can also say the kumbaras are the first engineers who designed pots.
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Closer Home
 The village
Kowdichar, 15km from Puttur, a society sect 'Kumbara Gudikaigarike' make beautiful terracotta pots. Pots that have a place in everyday lives of people and those that have decorative significance. The shape of every dish, plate, water storing pots, oil container, pickle preserve, cooking vessels, traditional stoves, water coolers and even ornaments come to life here.
Started 40 years back the society has four branches in Belthangady,
Puttur, Bantwal and Sullia. Another attraction is the subsidised training it offers for six months to people who are interested in gaining a firm grip of this art form.
Nearly 80 families reside in this village. But of late the interest in the skill has shown a downward trend as dealing with wood and clay is found difficult. Talking to them reveals the lack of support from the Forest Department and the problems in marketing due to lack of public awareness.
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Simplicity the main ingredient
When the wheel is set on its axle on the floor ready for the work of the day, it is an astonishing sight, whether on the first or the hundredth occasion, to watch the potter or his assistant whip it into action with a staff of wood. By placing this stick against a spoke or a recess on the flat surface, and stirring dexterously and vigorously, the wheel is 'wound up' with energy and spins in complete silence for what seems an
age. Pottery has sense of economic relevance and has at the same time, a meditative
quality.
The clay of southern India has a bronze colour and it is strong but lacks plasticity. The colour ranges from off-white through yellow, red, brown and grey to black. The potter gets his raw material from the river bed, lake or pond.
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The taciturn, but gentle and friendly potter takes a lump of clay and sets to work. The whole personality of the pot maker moves around the centre of the wheel. It is thus an automatic ‘Yogabhyas’. Though highly efficient friction caused by the hands makes the wheel wobble and the Kumbara bends with his clay, his whole being concentrating on it.
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The process
Before any moulding begin, the raw clay must be cleansed of foreign bodies such as pebbles, roots, wigs, twigs and any deficiencies in its texture that would make it hard to work. This is done adding sand or cow dung. Mixing plays a very important role as the wrong mix can render whole thing useless.
After mixing they are made into pillars, which is the potters’ terminology and they can make about 3-4 pots depending on the size of pot. Later it is placed for drying in the Sun.
They make 25 pots, which involves 3 days of work. But now-a-days most of the families are severing the link with the age old tradition as there is no facilities forthcoming from the Government and also due to the arrival of aluminum, steel etc. But the truth, food tastes better when cooked in mud vessel. They place about 8 -100 pots at a time in an Ala or kiln for firing and that takes about Rs 1,800 worth for the same.
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From a clump of earth to a thing of beauty
Holding the essence of earth in one hand and using the other to bring it to life with brush and colour, is not just therapeutic, but also satisfying to the hidden artist, the potter. A newly baked pot may look plain to it, it turns into a piece of art a personal design statement for your home. You can still find a beautiful way of expressing these feelings in another way with a paint brush, some paint and a terra-cotta pot. Choose different shapes to form a group in corner or a single large painted pot as an exclamation mark!
Taking them home Step on your brakes whenever you reach the site and scout around. Check the Quality with the two-fingernails. Called the tapping test a kind of clicking noise indicates a good one, a dull sound indicates a baked one. Then put it right back. The prices range from Rs 15 for small pots and then move upwards.
Impoverish :
Potter's co-operative societies and Kulal association should endeavour to put in their best effort for the prosperity of the community.
Efforts should e made to change the present attitude of the people towards potters.
Potters should sell the items occasionally through small scale and cottage industry Board should be made use of.
Training should be given to potters in diversified production of items such as garden pots and ornaments pottery.
A family should show its desire to teach the children their age old occupation of pottery.
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