Kashmir Artisans fight for survival amid dying art of survival
Pottery as craft in Kashmir can be traced to Neolithic age of settlements from 3000 to 1200 BC at Burzhome, in the outskirts of Kashmir. In rural areas of Kashmir, Clay made utensils are still used for storage of water and grains. Traditional musical instruments made from clay like the Tumbakneer (goblet drum) are still widespread. As modern kitchenware replaces earthenware, the lack of government support to facilitate innovations in their craft has led to its near extinction of this art and craft.
As a result, children of these artisans are forced to take up different occupations and become either drivers, carpenters, among others, to sustain their families. As it is almost clear that the decline of Kashmir pottery is irreversible owing to the introduction of metal and plastic utensils in all spheres of life.
“It has gone out of fashion, and now the government has introduced studio pottery where decorative cups and mugs are being made, but that’s not a traditional craft,” says Zubair
Tandoors offer a glimmer of hope
Potters in the village of Palhallan in northern Kashmir are fighting against the odds of dying Art and Craft to keep their tradition alive. There are approx 35 to 40 families have been making tandoors (cylindrical clay ovens) used by bakers, restaurants and hotels across Kashmir and in parts of India. The potters in this village are sanguine that fabrication of clay tandoor is the only hope of survival for the dying art of pottery. This seems to be providing them them with “enough income” to sustain their families. As per these potters , it takes them two weeks to make a tandoor, from molding and shaping the clay to drying it under the sun. This way they make around 150 tandoors a year, selling them for 5,000 rupees ($67, €57) each to customers across India. They are sure that pottery is an art passed on by forefathers and is here to stay.
Art never dies, it will keep changing its forms and will survive in various forms.
