Pot making is a child of culture, the civilisations had a breakthrough with invention of the wheels.
The clay art is named Terracotta , meaning, baked earth .Forefathers found to make pots from clay and baked it to use as storage utensils and frying pans.
Even today , I stop to wonder about the engineering behind the critical Pot Making Art.
In India , from Kashmir to Kanyakumari pots are used despite of varying descendant natives. Rajasthan , the Pink city itself icon of India. Especially in South India , the Terracotta is a booming Industry with various inventions from Pressure Cookers to Refrigerators are made and sold.
A small memoir about an old couple selling Pots in Pondicherry MG Road adjacent to Royal Enfield Showroom. Her name is Mangalamma ( Prosperity) Poverty is her only identity .And selling these pots earns her half a bread.Her hubby Arasaiyya( A king) sits along with her sharing the pros and cons of street vendor ship.
When I walked past her , she ran behind me , pleading to buy one pot . It was a sunny day , she did not even have an umbrella . Many Indians have the privilege of being dark skinned, the sun wont harm them at all as long as they drink enough water .
My heart was swollen and the moment I looked at her eyes I felt the depth of her condition.
I shared my water bottle and later we talked about her livelihood and she hails from a place called ,Kuyavarpalayam ( Habitat of Pot Makers) .
I wanted to buy more pots , unfortunately , I did not have my own vehicle to buy much and ended up buying two .she said one pot is INR 10 , I was amazed and gave her INR 30 . She instantly returned INR 10 , stating getting more than what it is worth for is unethical ! Since then , whenever my parents dropped me in my University ,by car , I started buying Terracotta utensils , Water Bottles , Boxes and even taken them to New Zealand later. When I cook curry in it , I always feel gratitude and wish her a good fortune .
So , if you happen to cross this Pottery , in MG road , or any other pottery for that matter please have a concern about them and extend your help buying a pot. Eventually , it will enhance their livelihood and spread this concern to your kith and kin
