In various areas of Kumar Para in all upazilas of Cumilla’s southern region, known as the traditional commercial city, there is unrest due to various crises.
Due to the shortage of clay, the potters of this region are in severe trouble because of financial crises and various other reasons. Even then, despite many adversities in the district, the potters still survive today.
On top of that, for the past 2 years, due to the impact of the invisible virus corona, there has been no end to their sufferings in trying to maintain their ancestral profession amid financial crises and various obstacles. Though they are spending busy times searching for potter’s clay in different areas of the upazilas, today the ancestral profession of pottery is facing an existential crisis.
Multiple sources among the district’s southern region’s potters state that once upon a time raw clay for pottery was available at hand. But now it has become somewhat rare. Even so, they have to collect raw clay from faraway places at higher costs, make various clay items, and still suffer losses in the market for not getting fair prices.
In current times, there is no respect at all for potters. Many of those involved in this profession are now forced to live a miserable life in unemployment. In the district’s southern region, areas like Dhamaicha of Laksam municipal town, Koar of Bakoi Union of the upazila, Shanichow, Bagmara, Naora and Bijoypur of Lalmai upazila, Bipulasar, Lakshmanpur, Nawtola, Bachoir and Dhikchanda villages of Monohorgonj upazila once had visible activity of potters. But over time, now it seems like the past. Now, in Kumar Patti of Laksam Daulatganj market, the situation is one of wailing, and many have wrapped up this profession and gone into other professions.
Sources further state that to maintain their ancestral profession, they have to face various troubles including buying raw clay, increased transportation costs, extortion by local syndicate groups. Moreover, the illegal filling business of countless rivers, canals, ponds, and water bodies in this region has created a crisis in collecting that potter’s clay. They are wandering frantically from one area to another in search of potter’s clay. Even then, they are not finding that clay. Once upon a time, when ponds, water bodies, ditches, and canals in the area were excavated, potters would be notified to collect potter’s clay. But that past is now unthinkable. Against the potters’ clay products, due to increasing demand in the market for various local and foreign brands of silver, plastic, and fiber-mixed products, people no longer want to buy items made of raw clay.
Multiple sources among the potter traders of Laksam Daulatganj market, known as the commercial city of the district’s southern region, state that the scene of Kumar Para in this region was once filled with the use and marketing of earthen pots, pitchers, plates, bowls, flower tubs, flower vases, student banks, toys, and various decorative items made of raw clay.
As soon as the 1st Baishakh of the Bengali year came, various items made by potters would adorn various fairs. But now it seems those items are out of reach. In the handicrafts of the potters, they would portray pictures of the laughter, tears, joys, and sorrows of rural Bengal’s traditions. At that time, there was no alternative to the items made by the potters.
In this regard, the potters opine that if they get cooperation from the concerned departments and financial institutions, perhaps they will be able to turn around.
