Iqbal Ahmad
Kashmir has lost several of its classical arts and crafts while there are few such artistic traditions, which have been decaying fast. The revival of these arts due to lack of demand of its produce looks now a distant dream.
Pottery is one of such arts, which was once very popular in Kashmir. The artists involved with this art are called Kral (Potters). The craft once was spread over hundreds of villages and artifacts commissioned by the craftsman were the only alternative for the domestic utensils. The Potter used to make numerous utensils one by one in his workshop called kral chrit. It is just like a wheel driven by hands. In the middle of it is placed muddy clay from which the required pot is prepared by the professional hands with the speed of the wheel. When desired pot is ready it is than removed from the wheel by a special thread called kral pan. From large vessels to miniature cups and candles are made and then baked in the potter’s miniature kiln. After pots are baped then these are carried to their respective adjacent village markets where these are sold to their consumers.
Pottery has a long history in this land; articles of pottery had been used from earliest times. The archaeological sites of Burzhama in Sringar and Gufkral in Pulwama which are dated to 5000 years back also revealed several evidences of ancient Kashmirian pottery. The medieval period sites of Avantipura, Devsar and Martand exposed fragments of number of earthern vessels such as Jars, Gharas, Handis, Jugs and Bowls. Incense Burners, Bottles and Earthern Lamps, Cups and Bowls of clay were also made for serving special occasions.
The village women used earthern milk pots, curds were made mostly in earthern posts or pans. For storage of grains heavy vessels called mutts were used very commonly. Almost every Kashmiri home had a heavy vessel used to warm water. It was ingeniously placed at the back of the earthen heater Daan to receive heat from it.
Besides Rice, Tea and other foods were cooked in earthern pots and also distributed among family members in pots made of clay.
It was very interesting to take food in pottery bowls. These earthern potteries were in great demand in local markets till very late. still few pottery items are being used. Earthern bowls are still preferred for serving of milk at special occasion like in marriage parties.
However the tradition of using pottery items collapsed soon when varieties of machine made pots of metal and crockery reached the corners of the valley.
The olden pottery items turned outdated which resulted in discouraging the making of pottery utensils. It forced the village potters to shift their business to other trades. They closed their village workshops. Many potters even did not like their trade names now and changed even their castes. The kral which once created beautiful utensils hated his profession and attempted to adopt new name and new profession. It is not only with potters, the local black smiths, weavers, carpenters, saloons; dyers like scores of artists have left their traditional trades and opted for more profitable works.
These days very few potters are left which are still associated with their traditional arts. However, their condition is not good; They have been living a very poor life. The golden hands which once chiselled marvels of soil have been neglected. These craftsmen have been deceived by their own ancestral art because it did not standby machine made utensils.
Steps are required to be taken to identify this community and people who are still associated with this art. The new markets for their produce may be explored so that this dying art gets a new birth.
The organizations who are involved in the anti polythene drive in the cities and towns can also help this community in revival of this art by encouraging the consumers to opt for the clay objects in place of plastic objects. As the objects made of clay are more enviroment friendly as compared to the other objects. Let us all come forward and prefer pottery objects over other such ones which help in spreading pollution crises.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
