“I have been making a living as a full-time potter for more than 35 years now. I entered this profession when I was 11. Coming from a family of potters, I wasn’t confused about which career path to take. Following my community footsteps and being a Potter, seemed the right path for me.

We make all kinds of pots, vases, diyas, vessels, bottles and bowls out of clay. Each of us potters has our own workspace here. This is mine. My day here starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m. Right now, I am making a matti kunda, a pot to store water. We usually make two kinds of pots, either a narrow-necked one or a broad-necked one. As you can see, it has a drying rack and wheel where all the unfired material is placed. I can make up to 80 pots in a day.

We have various departments here. Some men source and mixes the clay, and women fire the items in the kiln. Right now, because of the summer season, there is a demand for these earthen pots. The water that is stored in the kunda stays cool despite the heat. There’s a demand for earthen cooking vessels and bowls too. Not only are these vessels relatively inexpensive and beautiful to look at, but customers also say the food, especially fish curries; tastes better when prepared in these vessels.

Children from the neighboring colonies often gather here to watch us at work. For them, it’s a visual wonder to see how a lump of clay turns into pots and vessels.

My wife is also a potter. She does vases, bottles, and vessels that are below six inches on her wheel. My son, who has just completed class 7 also likes working on the wheel during his free time. Pottery for us is not just a profession but a way of life and I hope to continue in this field as long as I can!”