The Women Folk of Meghalaya

It’s absolutely unfathomable to comprehend, the numerous and extraordinary caliber of a woman. Almost all the attributive words present in a dictionary would unquestionably fall less, when it comes to narrating her divine superiority. Nothing in her realm is unattainable. She is the creator of new life and a contriver of endless matters. 

 

One such time - honoured story of artistic prowess comes from the abode of clouds – Meghalaya. 

One will never cease to be mystified by the picturesque beauty this place has to offer. And it becomes all the more fascinating once you discover the remarkable tale of “The Women potters of Meghalaya”. 

 

The art of making clay pottery is still the main source of livelihood for many households in the two West Jaintia Hills villages of Larnai and Tyrchang. ‘Khiew Ranei’ or the making of black earthen pottery serves as one of the biggest sources of income for these villagers. The art which originated hundreds of years ago in the hills trickled down to the villagers through their forefathers and is mostly practiced by women. 

 

Their exquisite handmade pottery is not only famous in India, but also in countries like Japan and Korea. 

One distinctive thing worth mentioning is that these women do not use the pottery wheel for their creations. They shape the pottery with their bare hands and using their wooden tools to cut and glaze. 

 

In terms of raw materials, they use two types of clay for making this earthen pottery. Khyndew Long which is obtained from Sung Valley, and Khyndew Khluit. The first type of clay is called the Silt pottery clay or the red clay and the second is the black clay. The two clay types are mixed and then pounded using a wooden pounder known as synrai. The clay is then moulded and sun-dried.  

 

One of the most extraordinary features in this entire pottery making is how they “blacken” the potteries. Instead of blackening the terracotta inside a kiln, the women of these villages use the bark of the Sohliya tree, once the clay is fired. This unique process of pottery dyeing is also called as “Miracle cold process “ 

 

The bark of this tree is crushed and mixed with cold water to form a milky solution. This solution works as a natural dye for the pottery. The hot sintered clay pottery is dipped into this milky solution which instantaneously turns it to permanently black color.  

 

Love for tradition has kept these extremely hard working and determined ladies going. Unperturbed by the commotion of the modern world, these women folks of Meghalaya have etched an everlasting impression on everyone with their artistic mastery, confronting all odds and adversities. 

They truly demonstrate the everlasting endurance and persevering nature of a women.