JAIPUR, INDIA, 6 September 2005: Rajasthan’s age-old art of sculpting beautiful mud toys once considered the most lucrative economic activities in the state because of the extensive use of mud products like water pots, utensils, toys and other ceremonial items is fast receding into oblivion. But potters now say their future is uncertain as demand for their products has fallen drastically. The longevity of this trade can be estimated from the fact that it has survived for thousands of years, as evidence found in the Indus Valley civilization. Potter Ram Lal says that although it has been his family business for the last eight generations, these products have lost their relevance in today’s society. Clay products once widely used in marriages and other occasions are considered stale and out of tune with the changing times and have been replaced by plastic. Though the decline in business is causing a serious economic crisis for the potters, they always look forward to festive seasons in Rajasthan. “Today we earn only during festivals like Gangaur, Holi and Diwali. In these festivals we make good money by selling diyas (mud lamps), but then we have to wait the entire year for such times,” said potter Durga Devi. A majority of the potter community has taken to other jobs in the cities. “The government’s reluctance to work out schemes to promote pottery also makes us feel vulnerable,” said Ram Lal.
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