Clay Karma

Some say, best stories are those that exhibits the rich and effervescent chronicle of any place and its people. One such wondrous tale is that of the captivating Longpi black pottery, one of the best kept treasures from the mesmerizing “jeweled land” of Manipur. Paradisiacally tucked away in mother nature’s lap, Manipur is home to one of the most prepossessing craftsmanship – Longpi Hampai pottery or the famous black pottery of Manipur. Longpi (Nungbi) is made up of two villages – Longpi Kajui and Logpi Khullen, in the Ukhrul district of Manipur. The chief artisans are the Tangkhul Naga tribe, who have made a mark   with its black earthenware. One of the most incredible features of this craft is that it is created without a potter’s wheel. No machines, electricity or chemicals are used in the making process. All shaping is done with the hand and with the help of molds. As the story goes, the residents of Ukhrul district of Manipur credit the origins of this craft to Goddess Pa...

Ezhumangad is one of the popular potters' villages in Kerala, situated on the banks of River Nila. The origin of this potter’s community takes us back to Andhra Pradesh. At one period their trade took them to Madurai in Tamil Nadu and from Madurai they moved to Kerala, many centuries before. With the passage of time they became fluent in Malayalam. Now their language is a conflux of Telugu and Tamil ( Kumabaran ) Rivers and wetland areas have always been a settlement hotbed area for potters, demographically, as it fulfills the attainment of the essential raw materials required for this activity - mud and clay. Ezhumangad in Palakkad district, a border area to Thrissur district is one such locale and is close to the River Nila. River Nila, otherwise known as Bharathapuzha has a special meaning for the people of Kerala in terms of cultural and spiritual enrichment. It is believed that the indigenous culture of Malayalam (the language of Kerala) has been created and sustained by the g...

There are few things that never changes with the tide of time. One such tale is the farrago of a Bhar (Kulhad/ clay cup) Cha, cigarette and Bengali “allochona” (discussion). No matter what time of the day, the concoction of these three, construes the meaning to any discourse. Be it a passionate deliberation on East Bengal or Mohan Bagan, or on Dada, corroborating how great he was as a player, or commenting how the traditional ways of living was superior to the present time, “Bhar cha” is the only thing, which is agreed in unison throughout the casual but rather antagonistic wrangling. At times, the Bhar becomes a masquerade of chivalry, once the intense polemic is won by shattering it against the ground, returning the clay to the earth from which it was made – but before that ensuring the Bhar is empty. This uncomplicated thing called “Bhar cha” is an enigma that has been facilitating in numerous colloquies since ages. The famed “Bangali Adda” is unfinished until there has been cou...

It’s absolutely ironical to contemplate that inception & contrivance of all majestic and masterly things originated from the modest concoction of the alluvial soil, the mighty and ardent fire and the pure and reflective water. Even the creation of this mesmerizing world was an upshot of the agglutination of these preeminent elements. An indistinguishable parallel to the above could be drawn on how the modest eloquent potter, unworried by distractions from the tumultuous humankind, pegging away on his wheels, forges a masterpiece conceived from the innocuous con flux of soil, water and fire. Weather it be our cherished morning tea in a “Khulhad” or the unsettling blissful aroma of that sinful biryani cooked in the “handi” or the display of lavish & elegant dinnerware at home to dazzle the guests, all of these epitomizes the artistic excellence of a potter. Unmoved by the dryness of the soil or the muddy water and the scorching fire, he willfully keeps on working in his muted...