The potter's wheel slows down

by K.K.D. Premalal -Matugama Special Cor

From time immemorial people have been engaging in traditional industries such as mat weaving, jaggery making and pottery. Pottery has a very long history running back to many centuries. Even the royal food was prepared in earthen vessels.

M. Laina making pottery using her manual saka poruwa.

Pottery was a household industry in some villages. In the past all the earthen products were turned out by them and they made a decent living by selling their products.

However, nobody can paint a rosy picture about the pottery industry today. It was once a profit making venture but today it is in dire straits mainly due to lack of clay and modern technology.

There are many clay products made by potters. Some of them are nebiliya - used to sift stones from rice, meti koppe - a plate, karamudiya - a lid, koraha - a basin, ethiliya - used to cook curries, gurulettuwa - a goblet to hold water and the vase to put flowers.

Synthetic ware

Because of the availability of synthetic wares, people have distanced themselves from pottery products. Modern day housewives use synthetic cooking ware because they can save time and energy. When they use earthen ware they have the difficulty in finding firewood. When using earthen ware, the walls of the kitchen also get blackened.

It is a fascinating scene to watch how pottery is made. Most of the pottery is made on a rotating disk that the potter keeps turning with his experienced hands.

First a lump of clay is placed on the wheel and then the potter moulds it. The potter's wheel or saka poruwa is now idling for want of clay.

Ridiwita, Lindagahamula is a sleepy village not very far from Meegahatanne in the Agalawatte electorate of the Western Province. People in the past were involved in the pottery trade. But many people have given it up. M. Laina who has been a potter for several decades said, "I still like to engage in this trade, but due to lack of clay I have stopped turning out pottery."

Income

"Apart from that, the income generated from this job is minimal. The young people seek other employment opportunities in the garment factories and tea estates. However, we can engage in this trade provided we are given clay of good quality. We bring clay from Pelawatte. However, the day is not of good quality.

She also said her neighbours carried clay pots and pans to the village before using a pingo. In the past the pingo man was a common sight in villages. He not only carried pots and pans but also fish and vegetables. Laina said their lifestyle has been changed drastically during the past two decades. She laments the slow death of the traditional cottage industry which helped them eke out a living. Today most of the children pursue their higher studies.

Once they complete their studies, they usually find some other employment or are eager to seek greener pasture.

She still turns out clay toys using her manually-operated Saka Poruwa. She also makes clay lamps (Meti Pahan) during Vesak and Poson festival.

There is a big demand for clay pots and pans before the New Year. There is also a rush for earthen ware before Sinhala and Hindu New Year.

A pottery seller in Waskaduwa said the demand for clay pots and pans has dropped drastically. He also said selling them has become a seasonal business.

"If people know the value of earthen ware, they will certainly buy them," he said.

A housewife said, I am employed in a private firm in Colombo. I have to get up early in the morning to prepare meals. It is quite easy to prepare a quick meal using synthetic wares. The women who are confined to their homes can use earthen ware to prepare their meals as they have enough time to do cooking. Apart from that she cannot find firewood easily.

Harmful

Dr. T. Kirubendran a doctor working in a government hospital, said clay pots and pans are better than synthetic-ware. He said clay is a natural substance and it is not harmful to humans. Medical research reveal that aluminium containers are harmful.

It is one of the main causes of cancer and kidney related ailments. However, the earthenware has been exiled from the kitchen by synthetic cooking-wares in the recent past due to diverse reasons. One disadvantage of earthenware is it takes time and more fuel to cook. It is evident that the ancient pottery industry is on the verge of extinction and it is high time to encourage people to engage in this trade. The government can play a major role by giving them required machinery, helping them to sell their products and give incentives.