Stay Healthy Beat plastics with terracotta

A teacher takes up the cause of potters

Kurnool: The stall set up under the aegis of the state Kummari Shalivahana Youth Association at the exhibition in the city is attracting a large number of visitors, particularly women. It showcased refrigerators, pressure cookers, biryani bowls, water bottles and several other utensils made of terracotta or mud. It is Tanguturu Subrahmanyam, a physical education teacher, who came up with the idea of setting up the stall to promote the use of mud utensils.

Subrahmanyam who hails from Kummari caste, wanted to do something for the cause of his community as pottery faces extinction threat with the onslaught of plastic products. The growing pollution threat to the environment from plastic products also prompted him to promote the traditional mud utensils in a big way. Vegetables can also be stocked in the mud refrigerator. The mud pressure cooker functions like a metal one in all aspects. Terracotta products and Janata mud utensils were also showcased in the stall.

Speaking to The Hans India, Subrahmanyamsaid, ``I want to promote the use of mud utensils to highlight the rich craftsmanship of potters. A considerable chunk of population in the country is engaged in the age old profession for their livelihood.’’The physical education teacher who came to know about janata mud utensils through the internet visited Gujarat. Moved by the toil of potters in adverse weather conditions to make the mud utensils, he obtained rights to market the traditional products with a touch of innovation in the state by spending lakhs of rupees though he could not afford it.

``There are many health benefits from the use of mud utensils. The longevity of our ancestors without any diseases could be attributed to non-advent of plastic products in olden days. I am determined to safeguard the interests of my fellow community members even if I incur loss in my venture. I am also striving for environmental protection by promoting the use of mud utensils. The ban on use of plastics in urban areas needs to be enforced strictly to protect the environment from pollution,’’ he said.

By D Harikishan