Pottery on the verge of extinction
Monday, 2 July 2007
POTTERS in Bangladesh are highly skilled and innovative. They know how to produce a variety of pots, pitchers, toys and other items in the finest inventive styles.
As we buy those for our precious drawing rooms, we never think of the economic conditions of the potters' community. We see regular reports in the newspapers that the members of the community are facing severe problems.
Newspaper reports say in the absence of state patronisation thousands of potters, mostly concentrated in remote areas, have been suffering in silence with nobody to look after their welfare. Since the introduction of plastic goods and aluminium products pottery lost its attraction to modern customers in cities and towns. This has extremely limited their source of livelihood forcing many of them to leave their ancestral profession.
Should they disappear? We would say no. It is true that modern people are inclined to the use of synthetic and aluminium wares. But we have seen that foreigners living here always buy the pottery products. We need to explore newer markets for our pottery. As a gift or for house or office decoration the pottery can be of much attraction to many.
The Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BCIC) can play a vital role in this regard. It can organise exhibitions at regular intervals in every town and thana headquarters to popularise pottery and motivate people to use earthen products, instead of plastic ones. Besides, the items can be sent to exhibitions outside the country. Systematic efforts are sure to give dividend. The potters will find a way to stray in the profession with comfort.
Rashid Ahmed
Dhanmandi R/A, Dhaka
As we buy those for our precious drawing rooms, we never think of the economic conditions of the potters' community. We see regular reports in the newspapers that the members of the community are facing severe problems.
Newspaper reports say in the absence of state patronisation thousands of potters, mostly concentrated in remote areas, have been suffering in silence with nobody to look after their welfare. Since the introduction of plastic goods and aluminium products pottery lost its attraction to modern customers in cities and towns. This has extremely limited their source of livelihood forcing many of them to leave their ancestral profession.
Should they disappear? We would say no. It is true that modern people are inclined to the use of synthetic and aluminium wares. But we have seen that foreigners living here always buy the pottery products. We need to explore newer markets for our pottery. As a gift or for house or office decoration the pottery can be of much attraction to many.
The Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BCIC) can play a vital role in this regard. It can organise exhibitions at regular intervals in every town and thana headquarters to popularise pottery and motivate people to use earthen products, instead of plastic ones. Besides, the items can be sent to exhibitions outside the country. Systematic efforts are sure to give dividend. The potters will find a way to stray in the profession with comfort.
Rashid Ahmed
Dhanmandi R/A, Dhaka