The hands that mould seek help

Palamaner terracotta artisans in dire straits

Chittoor: Terracotta or terra cotta is a type of earthenware. It is a clay-based unglazed or glazed ceramic. It is used normally for sculpture made in earthenware and also for various utilitarian uses, including vessels, notably flower pots and interior decorative pieces.

Palamaner, which is 40 away from Chittoor, is the hub of the terracotta crafts which are being made for several decades. Nearly 100 families belonging to Kummara caste depend on the terracotta crafts. The pottery evokes attraction for the people travelling by four- wheeler national highway on Chittoor-Bengaluru. Hence, they find the highway the best place to sell their pottery.

The terracotta artisans used to make several articles, such as lamps, flower vases, pots, musical instruments, horses, elephants, idols, plates, and others, popularly known as terracotta baked products. The business is now confined to the national highway as the art is not patronised as it was in the past. The artisans are now giving up their craft.

Speaking to The Hans India, K Ellappa, the founder of terracotta handicrafts at Palamaner, said that they were forced to quit the profession as the government failed to encourage the art. “There is no financial support from the government. We have to invest huge money for getting raw material such as clay, sand, and firewood.

We are not interested to allow our children to continue making pottery,” he said. “We used to exhibit our products in exhibitions, Lepakshi emporia and other places. But now, people are not evincing much interest in our products. A day is not far off when terracotta handicrafts would disappear,” said Ellappa.

K Venkata Ratnam, one of the senior artisans, said several of them had already left the profession. “We have almost stopped making of pottery. We are just disposing of stocks at cheaper rate.” he added.

By:C Prabhakar Rao